The remote Aboriginal community of Bidyadanga is one of a number of communities plunged into lockdown after an outbreak of COVID-19 in Western Australia.
Seventeen people have tested positive for the virus in the community of approximately 650 residents - which is the largest in the state.
WA Country Health Service's acting regional director Rob Pulsford released a statement responding to the situation, revealing that he was concerned that the positive cases had likely been infectious.
"The community is locked down just in case," Mr Pulsford said.
The decision comes hours after the remote community of Mantamaru (Jameson) in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands was put into lockdown after it reported six positive cases of its own.
The Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services said it had deployed a rapid response team from Broome to the community to assist with testing and additional vaccinations.
The team will also aim to boost vaccination rates in the community. The current double-dose rate for residents sits at 90 per cent, but just under 10 per cent have had boosters.
The current outbreak has sparked concern for the wellbeing of community members. The Kimberley-wide double-dose vaccination rate is currently 78 per cent, well below the 95 per cent of the total state.
With Western Australia recording 2147 active cases, Premier Mark McGowan said he expected more to come.
"Bidyadanga is a large community ... I think it's nearly 1000 people so we expect more will follow," he said.
"It's clear that cases are rising in the community. The mathematics are clear - we're not far away from recording over 1000 new cases per day.
"It's not a cause for panic but it's a reminder to take Omicron seriously."
Residents in the community are being urged to remain in isolation, while anyone who has been in Bidyadanga in the past week should isolate and monitor their symptoms.
