Victorian officials take precautionary health measures after discovery of ‘indeterminate’ COVID test result

The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has said follow-up coronavirus testing is being done after an indeterminate test result was received last night.

The health department reported that there were no new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 today for the 25th consecutive day and no new cases in hotel quarantine.

There are 20 active cases of coronavirus in the state.

However one of the 10,681 test results processed in the last 24 hours to midnight was “indeterminate”, the department said, and “precautionary public health actions” were being taken.

Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said a weak negative case had returned a weak positive test result and the health department would have more to say later in the day.

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It came as fragments of COVID-19 were found in wastewater samples at six locations across the state since Friday.

Those locations include Castlemaine, Cowes and Pakenham, as well as Leongatha, Gisborne and Hamilton.

Anyone who has been in those locations in recent days is urged to get tested if they display even mild symptoms.

People who have recovered from COVID-19 can continue to shed viral fragments for weeks and even months.

Wastewater samples are taken at 95 sites across the state as an early indicator of coronavirus exposure.

It came as the final Australian Open players were released from hotel quarantine in preparation for the start of the tennis grand slam on February 8.

Almost 1,000 players and officials spent two weeks in hotel quarantine to allow them to participate in the tournament.

One player and four non-players are still classified as positive cases and will have to stay in isolation for now.

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has approved daily crowd limits of between 25,000 and 30,000 people per day.