The Aboriginal town of Cherbourg, 250 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, is seemingly defying the odds against the highly contagious Omicron variant.
When the first case of the virus was detected on December 29, authorities feared a rapid spread and high numbers of hospitalisations due to the vulnerable population and comparatively low vaccination rates.
Almost a month later, just two people have been hospitalised and both have since recovered. The daily case numbers in the town are also already slowing.
Cherbourg Aboriginal Community Council chief executive Chatur Zala said the town seems to have dodged a bullet.
"We have managed the situation very well, which could have gone very badly," he said.
There have been more than 200 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in the community of about 1,200 residents, with 50 cases still active.
The average number of new daily cases is stable at between 4 to 5.
Cherbourg mayor Elvie Sandow said the virus may have hit its peak.
"I believe now that it's actually slowing down, touch wood," she said.
Just weeks ago, case numbers were climbing by dozens each day.
Outbreak 'changed community'
Ms Sandow said the community's success at flattening the curve has been attributed to the strong uptake of health advice to wear masks, stay home and get tested if unwell.
"[The community] is realising how serious this pandemic is. It has taken them a week or two to realise how serious this is," she said.
"They've responded really well, which is good, and at the end of the day we have to keep this community safe."
Cherbourg's streets are quieter than usual, and the outbreak has taken its toll on locals.
Cherbourg resident Jackson Cobbo said the community has changed a lot since COVID hit.
"A lot of families are relying on the food drops, those in isolation."
Another challenge has been quarantine arrangements in crowded households.
Mr Cobbo said he and other family members had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
"I had a pretty good feeling I had COVID, and I had the symptoms, so I pretty much just locked myself in one corner of the house and didn't let anyone near me," he said.
Vaccination rates climb
According to Commonwealth data, the Cherbourg local government area has one of the lowest COVID vaccination rates in Queensland, with 73 per cent receiving a first dose and 65 per cent double vaccinated.
Uptake has risen, with the first dose rate up by 7 per cent and second doses up by 5 per cent since the beginning of the local outbreak.
"Get vaccinated. That's the big key message," Ms Sandow said.
"That's the only way you're going to beat this virus."
Even though rates are rising, Lena Dameglio, who runs the local convenient store, said vaccination status had created some division within the town.
"Others just don't care, and that's the sad part of it because the majority of the population are hearing and complying with the rules and regulations."
Hopes for outbreak peak
Ms Sandow hopes the outbreak in Cherbourg has peaked and is now petering out.
"Hopefully, it's finished now, the numbers are going to go low, and hopefully it will stay that way," she said.
Darling Downs Health Indigenous health director Rica Lacey said the outbreak was starting to slow.
"It's because of all the work that's been done on the ground out there with the Aboriginal medical service and our hospital with testing and contact tracing," she said.
Mr Chatur said the council had been taking calls from other Aboriginal communities looking for advice on managing outbreaks.
"After three weeks, we have managed because we were prepared."
