The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2020

97 new cases, 7,910 recoveries, and two more deaths related to COVID-19 as 56-hour weekend curfew 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 97 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and two more deaths. The total number of deaths is now 598 as of Friday. Reports indicate that 7,910 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 136,897 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 13,069, including one delayed unreported case.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,877
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 1,423
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 1,312
• Gallup Service Unit: 2,005
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,470
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,957
• Tuba City Service Unit: 1,339
• Winslow Service Unit: 677

* 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 spread of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation, largely due to travel off the Navajo Nation and family gatherings. On Friday, the state of New Mexico reported 1,237 new cases of COVID-19, the state of Arizona reported 3,015 new cases, and Utah reported 2,150.

“Unfortunately, our public health officials are projecting that the Navajo Nation will soon reach and maybe even surpass the level of COVID-19 cases that we had in April and May. The only way we are going to reduce the spread is if every citizen on the Navajo Nation does their part by staying home as much as possible, avoiding family gatherings and crowds, wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and washing your hands often. If our people don’t make drastic changes and if we continue to hold gatherings, travel off the Navajo Nation, and to be careless then we are soon going to be in a major crisis situation. This virus is real, it’s potentially deadly, and anyone can catch it. We have to do better and we have to rely on the data and the advice of our health care experts,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

On Friday, the Nez-Lizer Administration distributed food packages to 454 families in Tsayatoh, Houck, and Lupton to help them stay home and stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. President Nez and the Navajo Police Department also held a road checkpoint in Tohajilee to distribute COVID-19 prevention information, face masks, and hand sanitizer.

“We have to do better. We have to bring down the number of COVID-19 cases, not only to keep our people safe and healthy, but to save lives. Nearly 600 of our Navajo people have lost their lives to this virus, and we do not want to see any more losses. Be safe and continue to pray for our people, the grieving families, first responders, public health experts, and our entire Nation,” said Vice President Myron Lizer.

To encourage residents to stay local and stay safe during the 56-hour weekend curfew, gas stations, grocery stores, laundromats, and restaurants and food establishments will remain open between the hours of 7:00 a.m. (MST) and 3:00 p.m. (MST). These businesses 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.