Until recently, Nadyezhda Pozzana shared a three-bedroom house in the remote Aboriginal community of Galiwin'ku with her sister and 11 others.
Chronic overcrowding on Elcho Island means it is common for a dozen people to live in one home, Ms Pozzana explained.
However, when the Northern Territory opened its borders in December, Ms Pozzana packed her bags and opted to move in with a cousin.
Ms Pozzana's worst fears are now a reality.
Another seven cases were recorded in Galiwin'ku this morning, bringing the total number in the community to 34.
On Monday, the community was plunged into a snap, seven-day lockdown in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the tight-knit community.
On Tuesday, the first full day of lockdown for Galiwin'ku, Health Minster Natasha Fyles said health teams from the nearby town of Nhulunbuy had been sent to Elcho Island to bolster teams on the ground.
Today, Ms Fyles said, support had been strengthened, with extra workers flown in from Darwin to assist.
"We have had a rapid assessment team head out from Darwin to Galiwin'ku to provide those supports, and police have also sent additional resources," she said.
Galiwin'ku is home to about 2,200 people and can only be reached by boat or plane.
Ms Pozzana is worried for her community.
"It has hit close to home [for] me. My own family has tested positive," Ms Pozzana said.
Ms Pozzana watched as her brother was airlifted from Galiwin'ku to Darwin on Monday, a precaution due to his asthma and fears he would be too far from help if the disease worsened.
Call for more resources, in-language messages
Ms Pozzana, who worked previously as a translator with the Aboriginal Interpreter Service, criticised the Northern Territiory government for a lack of COVID-19 messages in Indigenous languages.
"We just really need to make it clear to the community: This is what a lockdown is."
Lockdowns for the communities of Galiwin'ku and Yirrkala were announced during a press conference on Monday, with no Yolngu Matha translator present.
"The majority of residents in Galiwin'ku are Aboriginal and English is not their first language and not the language spoken at home," Ms Pozzana said.
"So there was [information] lost in translation already."
Ms Fyles said she "took that feedback on board" regarding a lack of translator during Monday's announcement.
Ms Pozzana, who speaks five languages, said her phone had been ringing "off the hook" since Monday.
"People are asking me, 'What is a lockdown? What do we need to do?'" she said.
Under the lockdown rules, people can only leave their home for four reasons: To buy essential goods, exercise for an hour, seek medical assistance or provide care to someone who needs it.
Ms Pozzana said that, while the "vast majority" of residents were doing the right thing, some simply did not understand.
"Prior to this lockdown being announced, more resources should have been sent to Galiwin'ku just to help our existing workers who are already here on the ground and working overtime, just to give them an extra hand," she said.
'No problem' with food supply — yet
Galiwin'ku has two takeaway shops and two stores, all four of which Ms Pozzana said were well stocked.
Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Alistair King said there was "no problem with food supply" to the Galiwin'ku stores.
Mr King said many of their suppliers "flexed up" stock during the wet season, so community stores would be full in case there was a cyclone or wild weather event.
"The store at this time of the year naturally carries more stock, particularly high-volume stock," he said.
"Our supply chain is looking pretty good and not impacted by the national issues right now — but that could change."
Mr King said that, if truck drivers, for example, were impacted by COVID-19, some supply chains could be hampered.
The Northern Territory government was contacted for comment about in-language messaging and health resourcing in the region.
