Man takes contact tracing into own hands as government stops sharing low-risk exposure sites

Edward Li-Guo said he felt a responsibility to share the locations he visited while positive. (Supplied: Edward Li-Guo)

A Riverland resident who tested positive to COVID-19 has taken contact tracing into his own hands by posting his exposure locations and times to a community Facebook forum.

After feeling frustrated by the South Australian government's revised contact tracing method of only publicising high-risk exposure sites, Edward Li-Guo felt it was his responsibility to share the details.

Mr Li-Guo shared his exposure sites with the community through social media after testing positive. (Supplied: Edward Li-Guo)

Mr Li-Guo undertook a COVID test on December 29 and received a positive result on December 31, but was disappointed when SA Health did not contact him to discuss his movements in the community.

The Riverland local decided it was up to him to ring the places he visited to notify them of his positive status.

He also took to the region's community Facebook group Riverland Forum to alert its more than 17,500 members of the exposure sites at Blanchetown, Barmera, Berri, and Renmark.

Exposure sites excluded on SA Health list

The state government has shifted its COVID-19 strategy from eliminating the spread of the virus, to reducing the impact of COVID on vulnerable people and saving lives.

CHO Nicola Spurrier said only high-risk COVID-19 exposure sites will be listed on the SA Health website and social media. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)

In a statement, Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases in South Australia meant it was not practical for SA Health to list every exposure site.

Instead, it would focus on high-risk settings like aged care facilities and places where multiple cases had been confirmed.

According to the SA Health contact tracing and exposure locations website, there are no current exposure sites in the Riverland.

However, with information sourced from community Facebook groups including Riverland Forum and the state-wide group SA Community Known Exposure Sites, the ABC can ascertain at least 14 exposure sites in the Riverland since December 24.

Community shares gratitude

The latest data from the state government's COVID-19 Heatmap outlining case numbers in SA local government areas shows the Riverland has 109 active cases, with the Berri Barmera area alone hosting 43 active cases.

Riverland Forum users commended Mr Li-Guo for his honesty and thanked him for sharing the exposure sites which they otherwise may not have known about.

"I feel that … a considerate person in the community [would] let people know what's going on," Mr Li-Guo said.

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