Central Australia's peak Aboriginal health body has called for a “complete lockdown”. 

The Northern Territory recorded 492 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, with cases now emerging in remote communities including Yuendumu, Hermannsburg, Utopia, and Papunya, as well as every town camp in Alice Springs

Central Australian Aboriginal Congress acting chief executive Josie Douglas says the region has reached “breaking point” calling for an extensive lockdown to help authorities respond to the coronavirus outbreak. 

The NT government has been using “lockouts” to limit the movement of unvaccinated people, in Alice Springs, Amoonguna, Yuendumu and Yuelamu.

Separately, a lockdown is in place in the Utopia Homelands, which has a vaccination rate of about 40 per cent.

Despite the call by Indigenous advocates, NT health minister Natasha Fyles says current health advice does not recommend a broader lockdown.

Dr Douglas insists more should be done.

“The lockout is proving to be totally ineffective,” she said.

“People are moving in and around Alice Springs, moving from community to community.

“The situation in Central Australia is dire.”

She wants an immediate seven-day lockdown, with an option to extend if needed.

“We believe there are far more positive cases in Alice Springs and remote communities than is being reported on,” Dr Douglas said.

“We need urgent action to get on top of the numbers before the numbers get away from us.

“A lockdown buys us time.”

The Central Land Council (CLC) has called for similar measures. 

“The plan was to evacuate people who had tested positive, this isn’t happening and we need a viable alternative to save lives,” CLC chief executive Les Turner said this week. 

“We need a rapid response team in our communities who can go door to door with testing, vaccinating, health care and advice.”

“The Northern Territory government has failed Central Australia and in terms of addressing the issues that Aboriginal people and key organisations in Central Australia are calling for we’re just talking to a brick wall”