Monday, 13 September 2021
A NEGATIVE sewage test result received over the weekend for Glen Innes has given the Northern Tablelands an ‘all clear’ status for COVID-19, according to local State MP Adam Marshall.
Mr Marshall said the result was a huge relief for the Glen Innes community, after two consecutive test samples tested positive for COVID fragments last week.
“This is really welcome news for the community, which was understandably on high alert,” Mr Marshall said.
“With all last week’s sewage samples from across the region returning negative results, we can put all our focus back on getting more vaccine jabs in arms.
“The quicker we reach that 80 per cent target, the sooner we can live freely with COVID and not have to worry about sewage fragment tests or whether we have active cases in the region.
“We won’t have to be constantly looking over our shoulders because we’ll never go backwards into lockdown again, just forwards and free for good.”
Sewage samples are tested weekly from Mungindi, Moree, Inverell, Armidale, Guyra, Uralla and Glen Innes. All locations have returned negative results.
Mr Marshall said despite the region’s ‘all clear’ status, now was not the time to become complacent.
“We must not slacken off now,” he said.
“We’ve all worked too hard to get ourselves out of lockdown and no-one wants to go back.
“Everyone should still be social distancing, wearing our masks and most importantly, rolling up their sleeves to receive their COVID jabs.
“Thank you to everyone who has already been vaccinated. Let’s keep up the good work and get this done!”
Member of the public can keep track of sewage test results in their local community here www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/stats-nsw.aspx#map