Northern Territory health officials are trying to get on top of a possible COVID-19 outbreak as the communities of Greater Katherine and Robinson River begin a 72-hour lockdown.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the lockdown on Monday after a man tested positive in Katherine and a woman tested positive after travelling to a remote Aboriginal community at Robinson River.
The 30-year-old Aboriginal woman lives in Robinson River, about 800km from Katherine, and is believed to have been infectious since November 11.
The woman's case is the first COVID-19 infection reported in a remote NT Aboriginal community.
A 43-year-old Aboriginal man, who lives with seven others in Katherine East, tested positive on November 13, just four days after testing negative.
The man, who's believed to have been infectious since November 10, spends time in Robinson River and is a household contact of the woman.
Mr Gunner said the remote community lockdown was the most serious COVID-19 update he had to give since the beginning of the pandemic.
"It is not a scenario we wanted, but we knew this day would come," Mr Gunner told reporters on Monday.
"But we are ready for this."
People living in affected areas will only be able to leave their homes for the five permitted reasons and have been urged to send one person to the supermarket at a time.
Health officials have already been deployed to affected areas for a testing and vaccine blitz.
The government listed three exposure sites in Katherine, including Captain Jack's Fish'n'Chips, Wurli Wurlinjang Health Service and Kirby's Pub at the Katherine Hotel.
All of the sites were visited by the man between November 10 and 15.
Mr Gunner said officials were yet to find a clear link between Monday's cases and previous cases related to the recent Darwin-Katherine cluster.
"We have always been concerned for our remote communities, because of their mobility and vulnerability, especially since Delta has emerged," he said.
"This is not a whitefella disease. COVID doesn't discriminate. Get the jab."
Roughly 350 people live in the Robinson River community and 77 per cent are fully vaccinated while 87 per cent have received their first dose.
Health teams are also being sent to nearby remote communities.
The tough restrictions come after Darwin and Katherine were plunged into short lockdowns earlier this month.
