To safeguard remote Indigenous communities from COVID-19, the Australian government has placed limits.

Greg Hunt, the Minister for Health, stated on Tuesday that he has made a determination under the Biosecurity Act prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving the Ali Curung community in the Northern Territory (NT).

Australia reported more than 4,000 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday morning, prompting the announcement.

The NT government requested the assistance after Ali Curung, located 378 kilometers north of Alice Springs in the Barkly Region of central Australia, was placed on lockdown on Sunday after a resident tested positive for coronavirus.

"These measures are based on the medical advice from the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, and will help to contain the current outbreak by restricting entry into and exit from these communities," Hunt said in a statement.

"This will assist in preventing the spread of the disease, including to neighboring remote communities in the Northern Territory," he said.

Ali Curung and the adjoining town of Tennant Creek will be on lockdown until as least Wednesday afternoon.

The face mask ban has also been extended until Wednesday in the Barkly Region.

However, due to the poor vaccination rate among Indigenous Australians, a renowned Aboriginal health facility has asked for a strict lockdown across the huge territory.

Only 34% of Ali Curung people have got two COVID-19 vaccination shots as of Sunday.

A hard region-wide lockdown, according to Barb Shaw, chief executive officer of the Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation, is the only guaranteed means to limit travel.