The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2020

9 new cases, 7,240 recoveries, and no recent deaths related to COVID-19 as Nation re-issues Stay-At-Home Order and 57-hour weekend lockdown

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Tuesday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 9 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. The total number of deaths remains 548 as previously reported on Saturday. Reports indicate that 7,240 individuals have recovered from COVID-19 and 103,028 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 10,141, which includes one additional case that was previously unreported due to delayed reporting.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

· Chinle Service Unit: 2,366
· Crownpoint Service Unit: 839
· Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 984
· Gallup Service Unit: 1,624
· Kayenta Service Unit: 1,331
· Shiprock Service Unit: 1,551
· Tuba City Service Unit: 958
· Winslow Service Unit: 482

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

On Tuesday, the state of Utah reported 650 new cases of COVID-19, the state of Arizona reported 595 new cases, and New Mexico reported 110.

The Navajo Department of Health re-issued a Stay-At-Home Order for the entire Navajo Nation, and a 57-hour weekend lockdown beginning on Friday, Sept. 25 at 8:00 p.m. until Monday, Sept. 28 at 5:00 a.m. (MDT). The daily curfew will continue from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on weekdays.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer are urging all Navajo Nation residents to use extreme caution due to new reports of increases in COVID-19 cases in the Sage Memorial Hospital service area in Arizona and in satellite chapters in the Eastern Navajo Agency, which are directly related to family gatherings where social distancing and the wearing of face masks were not enforced.

“Unfortunately, we are going to continue to see spikes in new COVID-19 cases as long as people continue to travel off the Nation and hold gatherings. The public health experts are tracking the data in order to recommend safety measures to keep our people safe. The new clusters of cases are directly related to travel to hot spots and family gatherings. We have to listen to the health care experts and continue to stay home as much as possible, wear masks, wash hands, avoid crowds, and practice social distancing,” said President Nez.

On Tuesday, the Nez-Lizer Administration distributed food items and supplies to 322 families at Manuelito Chapter, Tsé si áni Baptist Church, and Oak Springs Chapter. U.S. Census officials were also on-site to help residents respond for the 2020 Census and Miss Navajo Nation Shaandiin Parrish helped register people for the upcoming elections on Nov. 3, 2020. President Nez and staff members also held a road checkpoint in Kin Dah Lichíí to distribute COVID-19 prevention information, hand sanitizer, and face masks to local residents.

“The reports of cluster cases is very concerning and the only way to reduce and isolate these new cases is by staying home as much as possible. We are very thankful to the Department of Health, Indian Health Service, and others for mobilizing resources quickly to address and help mitigate the spread. Please continue to pray for our Nation and first responders,” said Vice President Lizer.

On Thursday, Sept. 24, the Nez-Lizer Administration will distribute food items and essential supplies at the following locations:

Bodaway/Gap Chapter 8:00 a.m. (MDT)
Coppermine Chapter 10:00 a.m. (MDT)
LeChee Chapter 12:00 p.m. (MDT)
Kaibeto Chapter 2:00 p.m. (MDT)
Inscription House Chapter 4:00 p.m. (MDT)
Naatsis’ aan Eehaniih Pioneer Day Celebration Fair Grounds 4:00 p.m. (MDT)
Shonto Chapter 6:00 p.m. (MDT)

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: http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. For COVID-19 related questions and information, call ‪‪‪(928) ‪‪‪871-7014‪.