The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 11, 2020

98 new cases, 7,828 recoveries, and one more death 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 98 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and one more death. The total number of deaths is now 596 as of Wednesday. Reports indicate that 7,828 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 134,358 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 12,818.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,830
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 1,385
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 1,291
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,977
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,466
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,920
• Tuba City Service Unit: 1,300
• Winslow Service Unit: 640

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

The Navajo Nation will have a 56-hour weekend curfew beginning at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 until 5:00 a.m. (MST) on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020 due to the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in 34 communities on the Navajo Nation. The increase in the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in certain communities is largely due to travel off the Navajo Nation and family gatherings.

On Wednesday, the state of New Mexico reported a record-high 1,500 new cases of COVID-19, the state of Arizona reported 2,030 new cases, and Utah reported 2,335.

“The state of New Mexico had its highest single-day number of new COVID-19 cases today and over 140,000 new cases in one day across the country. In some regions in the country, they are seeing exponential growth on a daily basis. Today, the Navajo Department of Health identified 34 communities, nearly one-third of all chapters on the Navajo Nation, with uncontrolled spread of COVID-19. We have to do better and we have to hold ourselves and our loved ones accountable. Please do not travel and do not hold family or social gatherings. Wear a mask, stay home as much as possible, wash your hands, and practice social distancing,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

The Nez-Lizer Administration will hold an online town hall on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6:00 p.m. (MST) on the Nez-Lizer Facebook page to provide more COVID-19 updates.

“Please keep yourselves safe and your loved ones as well. The safest place to be is at home here on the Navajo Nation. Cases of COVID-19 are rising in areas near the Navajo Nation. I commend the businesses on the Navajo Nation for adhering to protocols and doing their best to keep customers and employees safe. As we move forward, please keep our people, our leaders, and our first responders in your prayers,” said Vice President Myron Lizer.

All businesses on the Navajo Nation including gas stations, grocery stores, laundromats, and restaurants and food establishments are required to ensure employees and customers wear masks, practice social distancing, disinfect high-touch surfaces, access to hand wash stations, sanitizers and gloves, and limit the number of customers in any enclosed areas. Restaurants and food establishments must operate on a curbside or drive-thru basis only.

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.