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More than 18,500 western Sydney residents have been warned to get tested for COVID-19 after fragments of the virus were found in untreated water at two sewage pumping stations.  

One of the pumping stations treats water from 5,680 residents in the suburbs of North Kellyville and Rouse Hill, while the other serves 12,650 people across Rouse Hill, Box Hill, The Ponds, Kellyville Ridge, Parklea, Quakers Hill and Acacia Gardens. 

The virus fragments were detected through the state's sewage surveillance program.

NSW Health said they were concerned the presence of the virus in the sewage could mean there are active COVID-19 cases in the area that haven't been detected yet. 

QR code scanning is to be made mandatory for restaurants in the state from November 23  (pictured: healthcare workers at a pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic in Rushcutters Bay)

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Meanwhile, New South Wales has recorded its fourth straight day of zero local COVID-19 cases - as thousands of businesses across the state were put on notice they have less than two weeks to electronically register every customers' details.  

NSW Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello says pen and paper no longer cut it and QR codes will be mandatory from November 23, warning any business without the digital system will be fined.

'We can't respond to a pandemic with paper. We must be fast and precise, and digital is the best way forward. There are no excuses,' he said on Wednesday.

The list of businesses requiring the system is vast, ranging from restaurants, to nail and beauty salons, tattoo parlours, pubs, clubs, funeral homes, party buses, brothels, corporate events, weddings and receptions.

'We have to move away from the walk-in culture to the check-in culture,' he said.   

Earlier on Wednesday, NSW Health reported that four COVID-19 cases were diagnosed in returned travellers in hotel quarantine. 

There were 20,586 tests done in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday night - twice the number of tests done the previous day. 

NSW Health continued to urge anyone with symptoms - especially people in the Southern Highlands and southwestern Sydney - to get tested. 

While the virus detection in the sewage water might be remnants of older coronavirus cases, NSW Health is concerned the detection could indicate undiscovered cases in the community. 

'People who live and work in these areas must be aware of any symptoms of illness, and immediately isolate and get tested with even the mildest of symptoms that might appear to be just be a cold,' the department said. 

'After testing, you must remain in isolation until a negative result is received. The only way to find new cases and prevent further transmission is to increase testing.' 

Crowds are once again flocking to Sydney beaches such as Bondi (pictured in October) as COVID-19 restrictions are further eased and the weather warms up

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Also on Wednesday, as NSW prepared to take on Queensland in the second State of Origin rugby league match, Premier Gladys Berejiklian was in no mood for the traditional interstate friendly rivalry about the event.

She repeated she won't be texting Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about the game and remains frustrated by her refusal to open the border to Sydneysiders, arguing that both states' economies were suffering.

'I think I've made my case clear. And she's made her position clear. And I don't think that she's going to budge,' she told ABC TV.

'It's a lot at stake. I think that the goalposts that Queensland has set for opening the borders to NSW is unrealistic, and I just wish that they would act in a more compassionate and common-sense way.' 

Queensland recorded one case of coronavirus in the 24 hours to Wednesday - bringing the total number of active cases in the state to eight. 

Despite being re-elected last Saturday as premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has refused to open the state's borders to about 5million Sydney metropolitan residents.  

© Provided by Daily MailNSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) refused to make a State of Origin bet with her Queensland counterpart

There was 'absolutely no health advice which says that NSW poses a danger to anybody,' Ms Berejiklian said. 

'Quite the contrary. We have tested our system. Queensland hasn't. WA hasn't,' she said. 

Western Australia and Queensland remain the only states enforcing strict border closure rules with WA keeping their borders close to all eastern states. 

Ms Berejiklian noted that from November 23, every Australian citizen will be welcome in NSW without quarantine, and the state is also welcoming New Zealanders.

'We're really encouraged by the progress we're making. But let's not be in a situation where people lose jobs, are frustrated and separated from their families over Christmas unnecessarily. It's just ridiculous,' she said.

© Provided by Daily MailQueensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) did not return a text from Gladys Berejiklian congratualting her on her election win until three days later

Further south, Victoria declared the state's twelfth consecutive day with zero locally acquired coronavirus cases and no deaths. 

Melbourne has endured months of strict Stage Four lockdowns which are slowly being eased as case number remain low. 

Victorian and South Australian health authorities remained on alert on Wednesday, however, over a coronavirus case described as 'particularly difficult to sort out'.

It remains unclear whether the case - an aged care worker who flew from Melbourne to Adelaide on Monday - is shedding the virus.

Another two positive cases in Victoria are also likely to be viral shedding, but all three remain under investigation. 

Viral shedding is when a person emits virus particles when they talk or exhale but might not be experiencing any overt symptoms of the virus. 

The Department of Health and Human Services has declared hot spots at Melbourne Central and Melbourne Airport because of the aged care worker case.

Anyone who visited Melbourne Central last Sunday between 2pm and 5pm, or were at Melbourne Airport's Terminal Four from noon to 1pm on Monday are advised to be tested if they develop any symptoms.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said the DHHS is working with SA authorities to formally investigate the case.

The aged care worker originally tested positive two months ago in Victoria, according to the DHHS. 

© Provided by Daily MailA woman plays football in the afternoon sun at Princes Park in Carlton, Melbourne on September 27