More than 170 new cases have been confirmed in the MLHD since Saturday across eight local government areas. Confirmed virus cases have been announced for Wagga, Albury, Greater Hume, Berrigan, Murrumbidgee, Federation and Murray River LGAs in the four days since.

Members of the Wagga community have reported alerts appearing in their Service NSW check-in history. However, details surrounding their potential exposure remain limited, and no central list of local venues of concern have been made public.

The Wagga case announced on Tuesday is the second to emerge in three days and the MLHD holds grave concerns the virus could be circulating silently in the community.

Wagga resident Karmen Dean said it was "ridiculous" that health authorities did not disseminate the news about the change widely.

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"I check these websites regularly, and still, since Sunday - that's three days now - there have been no listings on the website at all and no times being mentioned," she said.

"How are we supposed to know? We have really been left in the dark ... not many people knew about this history check in the app until Sunday."

On Sunday night, the Murrumbidgee Local Health District said the Service NSW mobile phone app would now be providing COVID-19 case alerts.

A Service NSW spokesperson said COVID-19 case alerts in the Service NSW app make it easy for customers to identify if they have attended a venue that a confirmed case has visited through displaying a red icon in their check-in history.

"People who receive these COVID-19 case alerts should monitor for symptoms and get a COVID-19 test if they feel unwell," they said.

"NSW Health is continuing to actively contact trace, including directly contacting positive cases, close contacts and workplaces where transmission has occurred."

Ms Dean said the red COVID alert does not tell the person whether or not they are a casual or close contact, which also has left people guessing.

"It suggests that you may or may not have been in contact with a COVID-positive person," she said.

"It states, 'unless otherwise advised by NSW Health, you must monitor symptoms and if you are unwell, go and get tested'.

"Many people who do or don't sign in would only know of this by word of mouth or by checking their history or social media if they have it."

Ms Dean said having the times available would also make using the app easier for people who have been in the same centre on that day.

"Anxiety is high given current circumstances and people are not finding out about anything in a timely manner," Ms Dean said. "COVID is not something you play around with. They need to catch up, and quick, for our community."

Wagga business owner Sheila Reynolds said customers had been expressing their confusion and concern over social media rumours.

"People are telling me they have seen exposure sites on their Service NSW app, and then I go to look at the website and I cannot find them. It makes it all very confusing," she said.

"Some people I was chatting to today didn't even know they should check their history to make sure they haven't been to an exposure site."

Ms Reynolds said some of her customers who are elderly or have cognitive impairments are unable to use the app to check-in, but they have a Service NSW card.

But when the QR code on the card is scanned, the customer's registered contact details automatically register on the Service NSW business online webform.

"We also sign them in on a form ourselves, but they cannot access their history because they do not have the app," Ms Reynolds said.

"It is unfair. What are they going to do? That's why it should be published on the [NSW Health] website because then the media, whether it's the paper or the TV or the radio, can help get that information out there."

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The Daily Advertiser contacted both NSW Health and Service NSW about the changes and have not received a response to the specific questions about Wagga's venues of concern and accessibility to the information.

Wagga councillor Daniel Hayes said it was important for the government to communicate that there is a change and why it has been made.

"What we know is that when there have been potential exposure sites, Wagga has turned out to be tested," he said. "They want to continue, but if that's not being communicated effectively and the rationale hasn't been communicated, people are going to be nervous. The absence of quality information is going to fuel the potential of fear."

Cr Hayes said if cases are going to pop up, there needs to be ways for everyone to access the pertinent information to know what action they need to take.

On Monday morning, MLHD executive Jill Ludford said there was a transition away from local contact tracers looking after venues of concern.

"When they do the interview now, all the information goes into the system and that automatically goes into the venue tracker," she said.

"That's a much quicker and more efficient way of getting those venues of concern up there for people to have a look at. I think there is still a bit more work to do with the linkages around the Service NSW's app."

MLHD's Tracey Oakman said the system of Service NSW alerting those who checked into a facility that had been visited by a positive case has been suspended due to people "misunderstanding that message".

"So if you have seen that on your phone, please don't panic," she said. "You will be contacted if you are identified as a close contact, and otherwise just monitor for symptoms."

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