Major health warning ahead of australia day: 'a big concern'

Health authorities are pleading with people to stick to social distancing rules this Australia Day amid fears the coronavirus is circulating undetected within the community. Fragments of

COVID-19 have been found in waste water testing plants across Sydney including in Warriewood and North Head. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the sewerage results were "a

concern". "Certainly the sewerage is showing that we may still have some virus circulating, particularly in the west of Sydney but everywhere across NSW," Minister Hazzard

told Today. "If you have any symptoms at all, cold or flu-like illness, get tested. We need those testing numbers up." The fragments could be either new instances of the virus or

people "shedding" COVID-19 after previously contracting it. "There's no way of knowing whether it's past cases or current cases," he said. "People who have

had it can be shedding the virus for a few months afterwards. So, it certainly is just on high alert." It's promoted a major warning ahead of Australia Day tomorrow, with large

crowds expected to gather across the country. The situation was "a big concern", he said. "Outside is far better than inside. Stay outside if you can. Enjoy the weather. But

also maintain that social distancing." Authorities were currently looking at easing some restrictions, pending more days of no community transmission. Mr Hazzard said conversations were

underway. "Normally the requirement is for at least one lot of 14 days since the last transmission and preferably, if you ask the public health (experts) they will always say if they

can get two cycles of 14 days but, of course, striking the balance and making sure our state is open as we have done right throughout this pandemic is so important. "But we will weigh

those issues up later this week."