Health authorities have renewed calls for the Hilltops community to come forward for testing after COVID-19 was detected in sewage in two towns in the shire.
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Murrumbidgee Local Health District [MLHD] is urging anyone with the mildest symptoms to seek out a test and will deploy mobile testing clinics to Young and Harden in the wake of the discovery.
NSW Health requested Hilltops Council to extend its sampling and start participating in the sewage surveillance research sampling program, conducting one sample per week in Harden-Murrumburrah.
Hilltops mayor Brian Ingram said the council would participate in the program and take all necessary steps to assist NSW Health.
"Testing was continued on Saturday and sent off to NSW Health," Councillor Ingram said.
"I understand there's testing over the next couple of days and it's a day-by-day process and council will continue to follow the NSW Health guidelines."
The MLHD's urgent testing message comes a week after hundreds of people in Harden were tested in the wake of an essential worker testing positive for COVID-19 after staying in the town for one night last week.
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The latest samples from Young and Harden were collected on Tuesday, according to NSW Health, both returning a positive result. The previous test at Young's plant, on August 31, was clear.
MLHD is deploying a mobile COVID-19 testing clinic to Young and Harden to enable anyone who is concerned or has any symptoms, no matter how mild, to be tested.
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose and loss of taste or smell.
Other symptoms include fatigue, acute blocked nose (congestion), muscle pain, joint pain, headache, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, unexplained chest pain and conjunctivitis.
The mobile clinic will be located at Young Town Hall on Monday from 10am to 4pm and at Harden Hospital on Tuesday from 10am to 2pm.
Testing is also available in Young at the GP-led Respiratory Clinic, at 12 Boorowa Street from Wednesday to Friday.
Call 6382 1599 to make a booking or book online at hotdoc.com.au.
For additional testing locations visit www.mlhd.nsw.gov.au, or for help accessing a test call the Murrumbidgee COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 831 099.
Sewage testing is sensitive used as an early indicator that COVID-19 could be circulating silently in the community.
Sewage surveillance is being conducted at Albury, Cootamundra, Deniliquin, Junee, Gundagai, Griffith, Leeton, Narrandera, Temora, Wagga, West Wyalong and Lake Cargelligo.
MLHD reminds everyone to maintain their vigilance and continue to follow the public health advice around hand hygiene, mask wearing and physical distancing.
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