The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2020

6,766 recoveries, 39 new cases, and fours more deaths related to COVID-19 

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Wednesday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 39 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and four more deaths. The total number of deaths has reached 467 as of Wednesday. Reports indicate that 6,766 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 83,527 people have been tested for COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation is 9,195.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,239
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 770
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 686
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,492
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,270
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,441
• Tuba City Service Unit: 859
• Winslow Service Unit: 431

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

On Wednesday, the state of Arizona reported 1,698 new cases of COVID-19, while New Mexico reported 229 new cases, and Utah reported 421 new cases. The Navajo Nation will implement a 32-hour weekend lockdown beginning on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 9:00 p.m. (MDT) until Monday, Aug. 10 at 5:00 a.m. The daily curfew will also be changed to 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

“In recent discussions with health care experts, it’s apparent that many of the new cases we are seeing on the Navajo Nation can be attributed to our citizens traveling to cities such as Phoenix and Albuquerque and attending family gatherings or eating out in restaurants and then returning home with the virus and spreading it to others. This is based on the data and information that contact tracers are compiling. We cannot stress the importance of staying home on the weekends and practicing social distancing and wearing masks when you have to go into public, which should only be for essential items or other necessary errands. We are doing our best to implement policies to protect our people, but they only work if everyone adheres to them. We will not give up and we will continue to fight COVID-19,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

The Department of Health and the Health Command Operations Center is also preparing for the upcoming winter flu season. They have also created a vaccination group to develop plans securing and distributing a vaccine for COVID-19 once one is proven to be safe and made available.

“The contact tracing team is doing a tremendous job working with those who have tested positive for COVID-19. With their help combined with isolation sites, our health care experts are seeing gradual improvements. These are all good signs, but we also recognize that there remains substantial risk due to how easily the virus spreads from person to person. Please stay home, wash your hands, wear a mask, practice social distancing, and avoid large gatherings,” 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.