The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2020

1,796 recoveries, 101 new cases, and more deaths related to COVID-19 reported as 964 families receive food and supplies

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 101 new cases of COVID-19, 1,796 recoveries, and three more recent deaths. The Navajo Department of Health also reported that on May 28, the Navajo Epidemiology Center cross-referenced the number of deaths and reconciled their data with that of state partners, which revealed 61 additional deaths. Therefore, the total number of deaths has reached 231 as of Friday. 

Navajo Department of Health Executive Director Dr. Jill Jim stated that the Navajo Epidemiology Center continually tracks mortality data on a daily basis and verification often takes around two weeks to verify COVID-19 deaths with local and state health departments in all three states. The 61 COVID-19 deaths reported on Friday are a result of a delay in verification with the state mortality database. The 61 deaths did not occur in the past two days, but over a period of time.

The total number of positive COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation has reached 5,145. Navajo Nation cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 1,312
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 512
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 261
• Gallup Service Unit: 869
• Kayenta Service Unit: 786
• Shiprock Service Unit: 841
• Tuba City Service Unit: 433
• Winslow Service Unit: 100

*31 residences are not specific enough to place them accurately in a Service Unit

“During this weekend’s lockdown, let’s remain diligent and stay home and spend time with our loved ones. This week, we received data that shows the weekend lockdowns are working to decrease the number of hospital visits, emergency room visits, and we are also seeing a flattening of daily cases of the virus. We are fighting hard every day for our people, so please think of others and remain home and safe,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

The 57-hour weekend lockdown began ‪on Friday, May 29, at 8:00 p.m. until Monday, June 1, at 5:00 a.m. This is the eighth weekend lockdown that also requires the closure of all businesses on the Navajo Nation.

“The number of deaths is very saddening. We know there are a lot of grieving families and we want them to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. It takes time to investigate and confirm the cause of death, which likely prayed a role in the delay in reporting the number of deaths. Please continue to pray for all of the men and women who are working hard around the clock to fight COVID-19,” said Vice President Myron Lizer.

Public Health Emergency Order 2020-007 also remains in effect, requiring all individuals on the Navajo Nation to wear protective masks in public to help prevent the further spread of COVID-19. 

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 primary Navajo Health Command Operations Center, please call (928) 871-6855.