17.01.2021
2 min read

COVID plea issued for five Sydney suburbs as testing rates plummet across New South Wales

Dozens more suburbs have been put on high alert for the virus after a concerning sewerage find.

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Five suburbs across Sydney’s west and southwest have been singled out in a COVID warning by Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant.

Testing rates have declined in recent days, with fewer than 13,000 results processed in the reporting period to 8pm Saturday.

It’s resulted in a plea for more residents to come forward for testing at the onset of the mildest symptoms.

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“It is critical that we get those testing rates up very high so that we can detect these unrecognised chains of transmission,” Chant said.

“And the areas I’m particularly calling out for testing are in Bankstown, Lidcombe, Auburn, Berala and Wentworthville.”

Residents and visitors to Sydney's eastern suburbs line up for COVID-19 testing at a pop-up clinic at Rushcutters Bay. Credit: DEAN LEWINS/AAPIMAGE

Six new cases were reported on Sunday morning, all linked to a Western Sydney man reported in Saturday’s update.

He has not yet been linked to a known outbreak but is believed to be associated with the Berala BWS cluster.

“Can I stress how grateful we are that people have come forward and got tested in droves especially the community around the Berala cluster,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

“I mean, it’s been outstanding but we really need to up the ante.”

NSW Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant. Credit: DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAPIMAGE

Meanwhile, ongoing sewerage analysis has uncovered fragments of the virus in the treatment plant in Glenfield, southwest of Sydney.

Residents in the suburbs the catchment takes in should be additionally vigilent for symptoms of COVID, as there could be undetected cases in the community.

The suburbs are: Airds, Ambarvale, Appin, Bardia, Blair Athol, Blairmount, Bow Bowing, Bradbury, Campbelltown, Casula, Claymore, Currans Hill, Eagle Vale, Englorie Park, Eschol Park, Gilead, Glen Alpine, Glenfield, Gregory Hills, Holsworthy, Ingleburn, Kearns, Kentlyn, Leumeah, Long Point, Macquarie Fields, Macquarie Links, Menangle Park, Minto, Raby, Rosemeadow, Ruse, St Andrews, St Helens Park, Varroville and Woodbine.