The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2020

New cases of COVID-19 reaches 71 for Navajo Nation

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — On Thursday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer were informed by the Navajo Department of Health and Navajo Area Indian Health Service, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center, that the number of positive tests for COVID-19 has reached a total of 71 for the Navajo Nation. The cases include the following counties:

Navajo County, AZ: 42   *changed from yesterday, due to clarification of one individual’s residency

Apache County, AZ: 9                                                                                  

Coconino County, AZ: 7

McKinley County, NM: 5

San Juan County, NM: 7

Cibola County, NM: 1

“According to health care and pandemic experts, the best way to beat this virus is to stay home, unless you have an emergency or need food or other essential items. There are many test results pending and the number of positive tests is going to increase quickly as long as people continue to be careless by traveling and ignoring precautions. There are people who don’t know they have the virus who are spreading it by going into public – that’s the reality of the situation. There’s been calls from the public to close all roads, but the fact is that we do not have sufficient public safety personnel and resources to man roadways around the clock. Our officers are needed in our communities,” said President Nez. 

He added that the needs for all health care facilities on the Navajo Nation are growing daily and this includes the need for personnel, protective wear, hospital beds, and other crucial resources and supplies.

“There’s a national shortage in hospital facilities and supplies and it’s only going to get worse until people adhere to precautionary measures. We are doing our best to get supplies where they are needed. To our health care workers, thank you for everything you are doing and please know that we are praying and doing everything we can to get you help,” added President Nez. 

“We have to come together as a Nation if we want to lessen the number of positive cases and beat this virus. We have to meet our prayers half way by staying home as much as possible. We can do this together and eventually we will, but the sooner everyone begins to listen to the health care experts the sooner we will see improvements. Please continue to pray for our health care workers, first responders, and all of our Navajo people,” stated Vice President Lizer.

A Public Health Emergency “Stay at Home Order” remains in effect requiring all residents of the Navajo Nation to remain home and isolated and all non-essential businesses to close to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. 

For more information including reports, helpful prevention tips, and more resources, please visit the Navajo Department of Health’s COVID-19 website at http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. To contact the main Navajo Health Command Operations Center, please call (928) 871-7014.

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