The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2020

6,677 recoveries, 36 new cases, and two more deaths related to COVID-19 reported as 57-hour weekend lockdown begins

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Friday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 36 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and two more deaths. The total number of deaths has reached 456 as of Friday. Reports indicate that 6,677 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 81,131 people have been tested for COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation is 9,055.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,217
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 758
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 656
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,482
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,251
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,420
• Tuba City Service Unit: 840
• Winslow Service Unit: 428

* Three residences with COVID-19 positive cases are not specific enough to place them accurately in a Service Unit.

On Friday, the state of Arizona reported 3,212 new cases of COVID-19, while New Mexico reported 216 new cases, and Utah reported 500 new cases. The Navajo Nation’s 57-hour weekend lockdown took effect on Friday, July 31 at 8:00 p.m. and will last until Monday, Aug. 3 at 5:00 a.m. All businesses will be closed for the duration of the lockdown.

“For over one month, we’ve flattened the curve on a consistent basis. We want to get to a point of having no new cases at all, but the reality is that we probably won’t see that happen until there is a safe and proven vaccine that is available. Until, then, we have to remain diligent and we have to keep holding ourselves and others accountable for staying home as much as possible, wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands, and avoiding large crowds. It appears that other areas in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico are gradually flattening, but their daily numbers remain high. The safest place for our people to be is here at home on the Navajo Nation,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

The Nez-Lizer Administration also presented a comprehensive proposal this week to use portions of the Navajo Nation’s CARES Act funds for student relief and to assist schools. The focus of the funds first, is to implement a virtual learning platform at schools, as opposed to in-person classroom instruction. A second focus of the funds, is to provide more safety measures for students, teachers, and all school employees due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Please remember that your health and well-being is most important, and that includes our students and teachers. Through contact tracing, we’ve received reports that people are contracting the virus when they travel to towns and cities outside of the Navajo Nation and unknowingly come into contact with people who are positive for COVID-19. Please stay home, stay safe, and help save lives. Also, please remember all of our Nation’s first responders in your prayers and all of those recovering and fighting the virus,” said Vice President Myron Lizer.

For more information, including helpful prevention tips, and resources to help stop the spread of COVID-19, visit the Navajo Department of Health’s COVID-19 website at http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. For COVID-19 related questions and information, call (928) 871-7014.