Communities in Western Australia's remote north say they feel overlooked by the state government's COVID-19 response, as a lack of services and limited access to testing kits has left residents feeling vulnerable.
Last Thursday's peak of 1,786 COVID-positive case numbers in the Kimberley has since trended downwards, but local authorities say overcrowding in homes, dwindling food provisions and limited access to rapid antigen test kits remain the key challenges in containing the spread of the virus.
Previously, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services has accused the government of being fixated on vaccination rates, while being unprepared to provide "basic primary health care needs" to residents.
The service has also urged the government to provide more food and welfare support.
No permanent nurse
At Wangkatjungka, about 100 kilometres south east of Fitzroy Crossing, community chairman Tony Uhl said the rapid spread of the disease was 'very serious' given the community doesn't have a permanent nurse.
"This place has been abandoned," he said.
"I'm really upset that nobody [is] caring about us.
"Indigenous people in Wangkatjungka are lost."
Mr Uhl said people are isolating in their own homes to prevent the spread of COVID but in often overcrowded dwellings with up to 10 people under one roof.
More houses needed
Limited home isolation options remains a concern at Yiyili, a small community located about 110km west of Halls Creek.
Community vice chairman Kamus Gordon said while about 90 per cent of residents were vaccinated, concerns remained about the limited isolation options for positive cases.
"In our community we're pretty low on isolation housing and some of our houses are pretty full because we have a couple of funerals coming up," he said.
Mr Gordon said the town was also seeking funding for food supplies for the surrounding communities, as they remain closed under emergency Covid-19 directions.
Travelling 200km for test kits
Wyndham resident Maria Morgan said a lack of available Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) meant some residents have had to travel significant distances to secure kits, a situation she described as "just not good enough".
"I went to Wyndham Hospital to see if I could get a couple of RAT kits. They told me they didn't have any to give out," she said.
"That's fine but if you live in Wyndham and don't have a car, it's not fine, it's bloody awful."
The state government responded on Tuesday by offering up an extra 200,000 free RATs to be distributed at community resource centres across the state from Easter Monday.
'Everyone feels forgotten'
Ms Morgan said there was also little information for locals about what to do when they tested positive.
"In a town like Wyndham, one of the poorest towns in the Kimberley, everything is hard to come by and it feels like everyone here is forgotten," she said.
She said some in her community felt desperate and needed more support on the ground.
Government insists help has been provided
In a statement to the ABC, a state government spokesperson said a number of tailored strategies had been put in place to assist regional communities.
"We recognise the COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges in regional areas and remote communities," they said.
"There are difficulties sourcing appropriate emergency accommodation in some communities, but the government does have emergency accommodation in larger towns such as Broome, Derby and Kununurra."
The spokesperson said welfare support including food, clothing, toiletries and baby care items had also been provided to remote residents forced into isolation.
"The government is committed to providing an appropriate welfare and accommodation response to COVID-19 to ensure people can safely isolate whether they live in Perth, regional towns or remote communities."
