Locals in fear as virus spreads to Indigenous town

Local leaders have expressed serious concern after a local Walgett man who travelled to Dubbo tested positive for Covid-19.

Regional towns home to large Indigenous populations and without the capacity to deal with a Covid-19 outbreak have been plunged into lockdown after a Walgett man tested positive.

The NSW town, 640km from Sydney, is home to just over 6000 people, about one-third of whom are Indigenous and particularly vulnerable to Covid-19.

On Wednesday afternoon, NSW Health enacted a public health order plunging the Walgett Shire into a seven-day lockdown from 7pm.

Just hours later, the lockdown was extended to the western NSW local government areas of Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine and Warren.

NSW Health fears the man, who was tested on August 7 and returned a positive test on Wednesday, may have been infectious since August 5.

“The person is also known to have been in Dubbo and Bathurst during their infectious period,” Western NSW Local Health District said.

The news of a positive case in the area sparked fears for those with pre-existing health conditions who would be at greater risk if they contracted the virus.

“The news I have feared the most is confirmation of a Covid infection in a Barwon River town,” said local MP Roy Butler.

“These communities have many people with underlying health issues and often under-resourced health services.”