Fears are rising for the Indigenous community in the Pilbara town of Roebourne as a COVID-19 cluster continues to grow.
WA Health confirmed the virus is spreading in the town, with cases reported at the high school.
But the department refused to reveal the exact number of infections and claimed that doing so would not change its health response.
Fifty new cases were reported in the Pilbara today, amidst a statewide record of 3,594.
The health department maintains the state has transitioned to a "living with COVID" approach, but Roebourne leaders say community anxiety is growing.
The town's population is mostly Aboriginal and local Nyamal elder Ursula Wilson said she was worried about vulnerable people in the area.
"I'm scared at the moment — I see people still walking around and it's like maybe they don't know what's going on," she said.
"I'm really scared because I've got an elder with me, I've got my dad who lives with me, and I don't really want people to come in and out of my home."
'Nothing has been done'
Ms Wilson said many people in the town could not afford supplies like hand sanitiser and masks and felt authorities should do more to support them.
"When COVID first came out they did supply us with cleaning stuff and sanitisers," she said.
"But now that we've got COVID here right in the town, nothing has been done.
Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance chief executive Chris Pickett said he understood the concerns, but insisted plans were in place to manage the spread of the virus.
He said the deployment of a team of Commonwealth-supported nurses to boost vaccination rates in Roebourne would be brought forward because of the outbreak.
"I think there is some genuine concern," he said.
"I think what we've got to try and do is avoid people getting panicky about it.
Mining giant supplies RATs
The ABC has been told mining giant Rio Tinto has donated 100 rapid antigen tests to Roebourne District High School.
In a statement, the company said it was working alongside health service providers to address the growing outbreak.
WA Country Health Service Pilbara regional director Margi Faulkner denied this highlighted a lack of RAT supplies and said the region was well-prepared for the virus.
"What we have across the Pilbara and across our health service providers is a series of supply lines to ensure that there are supplies available, particularly in times of increased demand like we're facing at the moment," she said.
