The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2020

2,576 recoveries, 78 new cases, and five more deaths related to COVID-19 reported as new Public Health Order permits “drive-in” gatherings with restrictions

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 78 new cases of COVID-19 for the Navajo Nation and five more deaths. The total number of deaths has reached 269 as of Friday. Preliminary reports from 11 health care facilities indicate that approximately 2,576 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, with one more report still pending. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation has reached 5,808.

Navajo Nation cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 1,502
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 557
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 324
• Gallup Service Unit: 980
• Kayenta Service Unit: 877
• Shiprock Service Unit: 962
• Tuba City Service Unit: 474
• Winslow Service Unit: 126
• *Six residences are not specific enough to place them accurately in a Service Unit

On Friday, Public Health Order No. 2020-013 was issued, which extends the duration of the daily curfew ‪from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. (MDT) until further notice, and Public Health Order No. 2020-014, which encourages individuals to practice personal responsibility of sheltering in place and to allow “drive-in” gatherings of any size with restrictions.

“Drive-in” gatherings include parking lots with hotspot areas, religious services, funeral services, graduations and promotions, firework displays, and other events, with the following guidelines:

• Participants must remain in their vehicles for the entire event
• All vehicle occupants must be from the same household
• Participants must maintain a six-feet distance from other vehicles
• Organizers and participants must wear face masks
• No more than five people in public restrooms
• Ensure access to handwashing station, sanitizers, or gloves
• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces

“The Public Health Orders continue to combat COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation and to prevent any potential spikes in new cases. There are many recoveries, but must still practice preventative measures, such as planning, wearing face masks, washing our hands, maintaining a distance of six feet from others, and cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces. We must not let our guard down and protect each other,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

On Friday, the Nez-Lizer team distributed food and supplies to 563 families in the communities of Beclabeto, Two Grey Hills, Newcomb, Sheepsprings, and Naschitti to help keep them home and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our hard work and staying home, keeping each other safe, and having faith are slowing the spread of the coronavirus, but our fight is not over. As the states around our Nation are reopening, we ask our citizens to limit their traveling to bordertowns and metro areas. Together, we can protect our elders, families, and communities,” said Vice President Myron Lizer.

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) 871-7014.