The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2020

6,810 recoveries, 36 new cases, and two more deaths related to COVID-19 as 32-hour weekend lockdown begins

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — On Saturday, 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 now totals 470 as of Saturday. Reports indicate that 6,810 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 84,537 people have been tested for COVID-19. Multiple health care facilities were unable to report the number of recoveries and tests completed for Saturday’s report due to technical issues with the reporting system. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases is 9,293.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,254
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 775
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 718
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,500
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,281
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,454
• Tuba City Service Unit: 870
• Winslow Service Unit: 437

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

On Saturday, the state of Arizona reported 1,054 new cases of COVID-19, while New Mexico reported 155 new cases, and Utah reported 376 new cases. The Navajo Nation’s 32-hour weekend lockdown will begin on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 9:00 p.m. (MDT) until Monday, Aug. 10 at 5:00 a.m. All businesses will be closed for the duration of the weekend lockdown.

“The overall numbers of positive COVID-19 cases for the entire states of Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona decreased today. That’s a good sign that the curve is beginning to flatten, but that does not mean it is safe to travel. Our contact tracers are finding that more of our Navajo Nation residents are contracting COVID-19 when they travel to cities such as Phoenix and Albuquerque and others. The safest place to be is home here on the Navajo Nation. Everyone must remain diligent about staying home as much as possible, wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, washing your hands, and avoiding large crowds,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

On Saturday, the Nez-Lizer Administration partnered with the Winslow Indian Health Care Center to distribute food and essential supplies to 571 families in the communities of Winslow, Leupp, and Dilkon to help keep people home and safe.

“We are very thankful to Winslow Indian Health Care Center for working together with our team to help many families. The distributions help to keep people home rather than putting them at risk by having them go into crowded grocery stores. It’s very important that we continue to listen to our health care experts in order to overcome this pandemic. Please continue to pray for all of our frontline warriors who are fighting for us every day,” 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.