By Jennetta Quinn-Bates and Alex Barwick with additional reporting by Henry Zwartz and Mitchell Abram 

The Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation (MCAC) is so worried about the potential spread of coronavirus through inter-state visitors that members of the group have started to blockade an entrance to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park from 3rd August.

It comes after the MCAC threatened to use "all its influence" to shut the park if people disembarked a plane from Brisbane and were transported into the tourist township of Yulara.

The flight has landed and people have already left to Yulara, with three directed to quarantine in Alice Springs.

MCAC's General Manager, Glenn Irvine, said the blockade started after Parks Australia initially declined requests to temporarily close the park.

"So we started this blockade", he told the ABC.

"No tourists are getting through."

Parks Australia temporarily close Uluru amid protest

Parks Australia said it did not have someone available for an interview, but in a statement a spokesperson said it was "committed" to being part of a collective response that "minimises the risk of COVID-19 to staff, visitors and residents".

"We are continuing to work with the Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation, Northern Territory Government and Voyages to reach agreement on additional health and visitor screening measures within the Yulara township, at Ayers Rock Airport and departure points, which complement the measures we have already put in place within Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park," the spokesperson said.

"As these discussions continue and at the request of the Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park will be closed from 1.30 today until at least 12.00pm tomorrow as all parties continue to work towards a resolution on this matter," they said.

The blockade ended after Parks Australia's announcement it would temporarily close the park.

Read the original story here.