New South Wales deputy premier John Barilaro has said lockdowns in regional parts of the state are the only way to contain the delta variant, given the number of unvaccinated people.
About 60 percent of the 116 cases recorded in the region are Indigenous, with just nine percent of Indigenous residents there fully vaccinated.
Mr Barilaro said vaccinating vulnerable Australians had been a priority at the start of the year, but Indigenous populations and those in aged care had missed out.