The first-ever cases of COVID-19 have been detected in the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg, 250 kilometres north-west of Brisbane.
The first case was detected on Wednesday, and two further cases have been confirmed on Thursday.
Residents are being told to stay home and get vaccinated before the outbreak worsens.
"We believe two of those are linked and another is a close contact of another case," said Darling Downs Health acting COVID lead Bede Wilson.
The original case on Wednesday resulted in 22 close contacts — 7 of which were from Cherbourg, according to the local council.
The Aboriginal community is the closest to the state capital, and just under 60 per cent of residents are fully vaccinated, according to federal government figures.
Residents urged to stay home and skip NYE festivities
Community elder and Wakka Wakka man Eric Law said the worsening outbreak was a reminder of the importance of vaccination.
"When this situation hits home, and now it has, people might have a different attitude towards vaccination," he said.
"At the end of the day, what else have we got?
The Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council is urging residents to stay home and skip New Year's Eve festivities to stop any further spread.
"We are worried, but hopefully our messaging is getting to the people, and I think they will stay home unless it's for essential reasons," Cherbourg Council chief executive Chatur Zala said.
"Our messaging is very strong at the moment to limit the movement within the community."
Mr Chatur said unnecessary visitors from outside the community should also be limited.
Authorities prepare for more cases
Mr Chatur said the council was well prepared for more cases and had been identifying homes for quarantine and stockpiling food to help families in isolation.
According to federal government figures, Cherbourg has been lagging in vaccinations with only 58 per cent of residents over 16 years of age double dosed.
Mr Wilson said the health service had door knocked every home to offer vaccines, and the community was responding well to the calls to get vaccinated and tested.
"We've done over 150 tests over the last two days and more again today."
More than 3,500 vaccine doses have been administered to local and surrounding residents at the local hospital and health service so far.
Mr Law said his message to the community was to "stay calm".
"The crunch will come if those numbers increase," he said.
"We don't want to see any panic happening."
A second walk-in vaccination clinic is open from Friday at the Cherbourg Regional Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Service.
COVID-19 testing is also available each day at the Cherbourg Hospital.
