"The big message is you all really need to be staying at home in your communities. Stay safe with your families," Mayor Judy MacFarlane said in a video posted last night from her farm property.

"Everything around is going to be closing down, they're asking the travel that you do is if it's an emergency and you really need to come into for a doctor.

"Roper Gulf Regional Council will still be delivering all essential services under strict rules from the government, listen to what health services and police are telling you," she said.

The Roper Gulf council's plea joins a chorus of voices from across the Northern Territory and Australia demanding strict adherence to medical and government direction protecting remote Indigenous communities from COVID-19.

Frantic efforts to get people home before the virus spreads further have now ended and been replaced with tighter travel restrictions demanding a 14-day self-isolation before entering designated areas.

"This virus doesn't choose who it's going to get, so stay in community because I've got a lot of family and friends out there and you've all got them too. The last thing you need is this virus in your community," Mayor MacFarlane said.

Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribehere. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.