COVID-19 has entered another remote Indigenous community as 39 new cases emerged beyond Sydney's borders.
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Two cases of 30 cases detected in western NSW were in a family in the predominantly Indigenous community of Goodooga near the Queensland border.
Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service acting manager Katrina Ward said the family was retested on Friday to ensure none were false positives.
At the same time, about 200 community members asked to be swabbed, meaning the extent of any spread should be known in coming days.
While NSW Health statistics suggest low vaccination rates in Goodooga, Ms Ward said her team had vaccinated 160 this week in and around the township of 250 as part of wider efforts in the region.
"We have been going into smaller communities and giving people education about the pros and cons of vaccinations instead of waiting around until it's too late and scrambling to try and get coverage then," she told AAP.
"There is definitely fear in the community about contracting the virus especially in the older and vulnerable populations.
"Some people were a bit ignorant or hesitant to get the vaccination because we thought (COVID-19) was going to stay in the cities but it found its way to us."
She said her team was particularly grateful for the communities' welcome - and the support in the form of tea, coffees and lunches.
"It's a big community effort, both from the workforce and the people living in these areas," Ms Ward said.
Cases were also reported on Friday in Dubbo (21), Wilcannia (3), Bourke (2) and Gilgandra (2).
Far West NSW Local Health District said four more cases in Wilcannia and one in Broken Hill will be included in Saturday's numbers.
All people who have visited Wilcannia in recent days are urged to get tested, regardless of symptoms, after a funeral began a super-spreading event.
Cases were also found in South Kempsey on the Mid-North Coast, Hunter New England, Central Coast and southern NSW, while the virus was detected in sewerage at Bathurst, Parkes, Narromine, Coonamble, Cobar, the Illawarra and elsewhere.
Nearly 400 cases of COVID-19 have been detected outside Sydney in August, including 261 since last Saturday.
Australian Associated Press
