The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2020

177 new cases, 9,833 recoveries, and no recent deaths related to COVID-19 as new provisions under latest public health order set to take effect on Monday

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Sunday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 177 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. The total number of deaths remains 667 as previously reported on Saturday. Reports indicate that 9,833 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 171,539 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 17,915, including one delayed reported case.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 3,594
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 1,932
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 1,869
• Gallup Service Unit: 2,940
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,840
• Shiprock Service Unit: 2,823
• Tuba City Service Unit: 1,811
• Winslow Service Unit: 1,085

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

On Sunday, the state of New Mexico reported 1,250 new cases of COVID-19, the state of Utah reported 2,563 cases, and Arizona reported 5,376.

“Navajo Area IHS has reported that nearly all ICU’s beds are at full capacity and other bed space is also filling up quickly due to the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases. We are near a point where our health care providers are going to have to make very difficult decisions in terms of providing medical treatment to COVID-19 patients with very limited resources such as hospital beds, oxygen resources, medical personnel, and little to no options to transport patients to other regional hospitals because they are also near full capacity. This second wave of COVID-19 is much more dire and much more severe than the first wave we had in April and May. We love our Navajo people and we want you be safe and healthy and that’s why we tell you to stay home as much as possible, to wear a mask, to avoid gatherings and crowds, to practice social distancing, and to wash your hands often,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. Recently, health care providers spoke about the severity of the present state of crisis at hospitals, which is available online at: https://youtu.be/yfOg3RANG-A.

On Monday, Dec. 7, the Navajo Nation’s latest public health emergency order will go into effect for the next three weeks, which include the following provisions:

• Extends the Stay-At-Home Lockdown which requires all residents to remain at home 24-hours, seven days a week, with the exceptions of essential workers that must report to work, emergency situations, to obtain essential food, medication, and supplies, tend to livestock, outdoor exercising within the immediate vicinity of your home, wood gathering and hauling with a permit.
• Re-implements full 57-hour weekend lockdowns for three additional weekends that include: 8:00 P.M. MST through 5:00 A.M. MST on December 11, 2020 through December 14, 2020, and for the same hours on December 18, 2020 through December 21, 2020 and December 25, 2020 through December 28, 2020.
• Essential businesses including gas stations, grocery stores, laundromats, restaurants and food establishments that provide drive-thru and curbside services, and hay vendors can operate from 7:00 a.m. (MST) to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday only.
• Refrain from gathering with individuals from outside your immediate household and requiring all residents to wear a mask in public, avoid public gatherings, maintain social (physical) distancing, remain in your vehicle for curb-side and drive-through services.

“The Navajo Nation’s health care system is in a state of major crisis. We, as citizens of the Nation, have to step up and do more to protect ourselves and our loved ones. We cannot be careless and we have to stay the course. We are hopeful that a safe vaccine will soon be made available to help fight this pandemic even more. Until then, we must continue to have faith in our prayers and keep making good decisions for all of us,” 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.