Why Queensland is seeing a sudden spate of positive wastewater tests

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said while the recent positive test results were not an immediate cause for concern, they should not be ignored.

“People shouldn’t be alarmed that there is positive sewage testing, they should just understand that it could be old cases but it could also be a new case,” Dr Young said.

“So just come forward and get tested.”

Queensland Health is actively testing wastewater samples for signs of the virus as part of its pandemic measures, with the testing acting as an early warning system.

CSIRO senior researcher Warish Ahmed was among the scientists who developed the current wastewater testing procedures used by Queensland Health.

Dr Ahmed said the tests were designed to alert health…