Source: ESR
The number of wastewater treatment facilities providing samples to ESR for testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, the virus which causes COVID-19, has increased by almost 300 percent and now covers over 90 percent of the New Zealand population connected to reticulated wastewater systems.
In its briefing today (26 August) the Ministry of Health confirmed positive detections for COVID-19 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. There were no unexpected detections to report outside these centres.
Brent Gilpin, ESR Senior Science Leader says the enhanced sampling provides an unprecedented opportunity to detect the presence of COVID-19 in New Zealand communities.
“Samples from over 100 locations during this outbreak have either been analysed, or are currently in the ESR laboratory being analysed. There are more than 70 locations in the North Island and 30 locations in South Island. These cover an estimated 3.8 million people.
“Wastewater sampling has proven itself as an important part of our efforts to understand COVID-19 in Aotearoa. The huge increase in sampling over the past week is testement to the commitment of Councils and treatment facilities throughout New Zealand to stamp out the virus. The results of the additional sampling should give us confidence we are on the right track,” says Gilpin.
The new detection in samples collected from the Christchurch catchment on 21 and 23 August following the non detection results for 16 and 18 August may relate to the presence of at least three active cases in MIQ facilities in Christchurch with this detection consistent with shedding from those cases. Further sampling of Christchurch is being undertaken today.
Gilpin said the recent detection of COVID-19 in wastewater from Warkworth reinforced the benefit of the sampling.
“There was sufficient viral RNA present in the positive sample from Warkworth for ESR to be able to generate a genome sequence that confirmed that this was linked to the current outbreak. The public health response then intensified the availability of testing in Warkworth which the community responded to by getting tested.”
Brett Cowan, ESR Chief Scientist said wastewater testing was “another important tool in tool kit.”
“We have the testing of individuals, our contact tracing and our wastewater testing; these three surveillance tools work together for us as we attempt to identify COVID-19 in the community.”
The results of ESR’s most recent wastewater testing results are presented below.
ESR Wastewater testing results (Note additional samples continue to be received by ESR for testing)
|
Region |
Sample |
Week of |
Week of |
Week of |
|
9-Aug |
16-Aug |
23-Aug |
||
|
Northland |
Kerikeri |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Haruru |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Whangarei |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Ahipara |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Awanui |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Hihi |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Houhora |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Kaeo |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Kaikohe |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Kaitaia |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Kawakawa |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Opononi |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Paihia |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Rangiputa |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Rawene |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Russell |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Taipa |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Northland |
Whatuwhiwhi |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Auckland |
Wellsford |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Auckland |
Omaha |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Auckland |
Warkworth |
|
Detected |
|
|
Auckland |
Snells/Algies |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Auckland |
Army Bay |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Auckland |
Helensville |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Auckland |
North Shore (Rosedale, Albany) |
Not detected |
Detected |
|
|
Auckland |
Eastern Interceptor |
Not detected |
Detected |
Detected |
|
Auckland |
Southern Regional (So-MH2) |
Not detected |
Detected |
Detected |
|
Auckland |
Pakuranga/East Regional (PS28) |
Not detected |
Detected |
Detected |
|
Auckland |
South Western Interceptor |
Detected |
Detected |
Detected |
|
Auckland |
Western Interceptor |
Not detected |
Detected |
Detected |
|
Auckland |
Waitakere (PS25) |
Not detected |
Detected |
Detected |
|
Auckland |
Hillsborough (PS23) |
Not detected |
Detected |
Detected |
|
Auckland |
Waiheke Island |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Auckland |
Beachlands |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Waikato |
Hamilton |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
|
Waikato |
Tokoroa |
|
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Waikato |
Taupo |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Waikato |
Thames |
|
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Waikato |
Whitianga |
|
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Waikato |
Whangamata |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Waikato |
Coromandel |
|
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Waikato |
Pauanui |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Bay of Plenty |
Mt Maunganui |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Bay of Plenty |
Tauranga |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Bay of Plenty |
Kawerau |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Bay of Plenty |
Opotiki |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Bay of Plenty |
Rotorua |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Bay of Plenty |
Whakatāne |
|
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Gisborne |
Gisborne |
|
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Hawke’s Bay |
Napier |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Hawke’s Bay |
Hastings |
|
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Hawke’s Bay |
Waipukurau |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Hawke’s Bay |
Waipawa |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Taranaki |
New Plymouth |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Taranaki |
Hawera |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Taranaki |
Kaponga |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Taranaki |
Manaia |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Taranaki |
Opunake |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Taranaki |
Patea |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Taranaki |
Waverley |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Manawatu-Wanganui |
Palmerston North |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Manawatu-Wanganui |
Whanganui |
|
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Manawatu-Wanganui |
Levin |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Wellington |
Otaki |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Wellington |
Paraparaumu/Waikanae |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Wellington |
Porirua |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Wellington |
Hutt Valley (Seaview WWTP) |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Wellington |
Wellington (Moa Point WWTP) |
Not detected |
Detected |
Detected |
|
Wellington |
Karori (Western) |
|
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Wellington |
Masterton |
|
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Marlborough |
Picton |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Marlborough |
Blenheim |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Tasman |
Nelson |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Tasman |
Bell Island |
|
|
Not detected |
|
West Coast |
Westport |
|
Not detected |
|
|
West Coast |
Reefton |
|
Not detected |
|
|
West Coast |
Greymouth |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Canterbury |
Arthur’s Pass |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Canterbury |
Christchurch |
Not detected |
Detected |
Detected |
|
Canterbury |
Rolleston and Eastern Selwyn |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Canterbury |
Ellesmere and Leeston |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Canterbury |
Selwyn Huts |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Canterbury |
Castle Hill |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Canterbury |
Lake Coleridge |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Canterbury |
Ashburton |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Canterbury |
Methven |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Canterbury |
Timaru |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Otago |
Wanaka |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Otago |
Cromwell |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Otago |
Alexandra |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Otago |
Queenstown |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Otago |
Dunedin (Tahuna) |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Otago |
Dunedin (Mosgiel) |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Otago |
Dunedin (Green Island) |
|
|
Not detected |
|
Southland |
Invercargill |
Not detected |
Not detected |
Not detected |
|
Southland |
Gore |
|
Not detected |
|
|
Southland |
Bluff |
|
|
Not detected |
