The Yalata Anangu community, on the edge of South Australia's Nullarbor Plain, has closed to visitors and returning residents for 24 hours following 'several cases' of COVID-19 detected at a nearby mine.
Yalata Anangu Aboriginal Corporation (YAAC) chief executive David White said the community became aware of workers at the Iluka zircon mine testing positive to COVID-19 yesterday, but SA Health has not confirmed the exact number.
He said YAAC enacted the "short-term lockdown" as a "precautionary measure" while the community waited on more information from SA Health.
"To protect the health of Yalata community, Yalata is now closed for 24 hours to all visitors and returning residents," he said.
"Please stay away until further advice is received."
Yalata is located about 86 kilometres south of the Iluka zircon mine, with workers required to pass through the township to get to larger centres like Ceduna and Adelaide.
'At the moment, the community is safe'
According to the 2016 census, 248 people live in Yalata, with almost 90 per cent of residents identifying as Aboriginal.
Concerns for safety of the local population were first sparked last week, following a detection of COVID-19 at nearby Streaky Bay.
Just 62.7 per cent of South Australia's Indigenous population older than 16 is double-vaccinated, with 73.1 per cent having received at least one dose.
Mr White said no-one in the township had tested positive to COVID-19 so far.
"At the moment, the community is safe," he said.
In a statement SA Health said was offering to support to the community, and no positive cases had been reported there.
