The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2020

225 new cases, 9,797 recoveries, and two more deaths related to COVID-19

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 225 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and two more deaths. The total number of deaths is now 667 as of Saturday. Reports indicate that 9,797 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 170,343 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 17,738, including 18 delayed reported cases.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 3,571
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 1,923
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 1,852
• Gallup Service Unit: 2,917
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,826
• Shiprock Service Unit: 2,796
• Tuba City Service Unit: 1,788
• Winslow Service Unit: 1,044

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

On Saturday, the state of New Mexico reported 1,925 new cases of COVID-19, the state of Utah reported 3,674 cases, and Arizona reported 6,799.

“The Navajo Nation is in a crisis situation and we cannot afford to be careless or complacent. We do not yet know the impacts of the Thanksgiving Day holiday, but we are hopeful that it will not cause another large surge of new cases. On Monday, we will begin another three-week lockdown along with 57-hour weekend lockdowns. Stores will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. We have to plan ahead to purchase essentials and please send only one person from your family to shop in stores. There have been many reports of people going to stores and having entire families enter and with their children. We need to make better decisions and help to educate all of your family members about the risks of COVID-19. Please stay home as much as possible, wear a mask, avoid gatherings and crowds, practice social distancing, and wash your hands often,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

On Saturday, President Nez provided a report to the Eastern Agency Council outlining the new public health order to extend the lockdowns, the hardship assistance funds, NTUA’s progress in connecting homes to the electric grid along with water cistern systems and bathroom additions with the help of Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority, and other issues.

The Navajo Nation’s three-week stay-at-home lockdown is in effect through Sunday, with the exception of essential workers, cases of emergencies, and to purchase essential items such as food and medication when essential businesses are open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily.

“We are seeing the worst of this pandemic right now, but we have to remember that making good decisions and keeping our faith will get us through this. Times are dire now, but we have to remember that we came from a long line of ancestors who were strong and overcame many adversities in their lifetimes. Please be safe and continue to pray for our health care workers and all frontline workers,” 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: http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. For COVID-19 related questions and information, call (928) 871-7014.