COVID-19 fragments have been detected at the Toukley Sewage Treatment Plant, Central Coast Health says.
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"These detections are particularly concerning as there are no longer any known cases in these areas," a Central Coast Health statement said.
The sample was taken on Thursday at the treatment plant, which serves an area of about 29,000 people in suburbs including Budgewoi, Buff Point, Canton Beach, Halekulani, Magenta, Norah Head, Noraville, Toukley, Tuggerawong, Wyongah, Kanwal, Gorokan and Lake Haven.
NSW Health data shows a sewage sample taken on Tuesday at the treatment plant was also positive.
The detection follows five positive cases in one Budgewoi household, which also had two negative cases.
But those seven people were moved to Special Health Accommodation in Sydney to isolate, after one of the negative cases made 25 visits to 16 shops in five days when they should have been isolating.
NSW Health subsequently listed these shops as exposure sites in several suburbs, sparking fear and anger across the Coast with thousands of people rushing to get tested.
The positive sewage test raises concerns that the person in question may have been positive at the time and spread the virus. However, it may be from another chain of transmission.
Some residents questioned on social media whether the sewage from the Budgewoi cases now moved to Sydney would still have been in the sewerage system.
One post wondered whether it came from "essential workers from Sydney coming up and crapping in our system".
Central Coast Health said high rates of testing were "critical to detecting transmission and preventing further spread of COVID-19 in the community".
"Anyone who lives or works in any of these areas is asked to be particularly vigilant for the onset of symptoms that could signal COVID-19," the statement said.
"Even if the mildest of symptoms appear, please get tested immediately and isolate until a negative result is received.
"Symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever, cough, sore/scratchy throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, and loss of taste or smell."
Local COVID-19 testing clinics include:
Wyong Hospital, Gosford Hospital, Doyalson Wyee RSL Club Drive-through clinic, Kanwal Laverty Pathology Drive-through clinic, Tuggerah Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology Drive-through clinic, Tumbi Umbi Mingara Club car park, Charmhaven 4Cyte Pathology Drive through clinic.
To find your nearest clinic, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics or contact your GP.
