The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 29, 2020

153 new cases, 11,677 recoveries, and four more deaths related to COVID-19

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 153 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and four more deaths. The total number of deaths is now 781 as of Tuesday. Reports indicate that 11,677 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 200,584 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 22,526, including two delayed reported cases.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 4,210
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 2,323
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 2,365
• Gallup Service Unit: 3,660
• Kayenta Service Unit: 2,166
• Shiprock Service Unit: 3,894
• Tuba City Service Unit: 2,466
• Winslow Service Unit: 1,415

* 27 residences with COVID-19 positive cases are not specific enough to place them accurately in a Service Unit. On Tuesday, the state of Arizona reported 2,799 new cases, Utah reported 2,736, and New Mexico reported 1,221 new cases.  

“In certain regions of the country, we are seeing patients being turned away at hospitals and ICUs reaching full capacity, but here on the Navajo Nation we are starting to see our numbers of new cases of COVID-19 flattening out. We still do not know the impact of the Christmas holiday and we will continue to urge our people to celebrate the New Year safely at home with only immediate household members. The more we travel and the more that people hold in-person gatherings, the greater the risk of spreading the coronavirus. We have to stay focused on bringing down the numbers of COVID-19 cases even more to help our health care workers and to save more lives. Please pray, stay home as much as possible, wear your masks, practice social distancing, avoid gatherings, and wash your hands often,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

On Thursday, Dec. 31 at 10:00 a.m. (MST), the Nez-Lizer Administration will host an online town hall on the Nez-Lizer Facebook page and YouTube channel to provide additional information and updates regarding COVID-19. The updates will later be broadcasted on local radio stations.

“We have to keep listening to our health care experts and do everything we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We have many elders and people with underlying health conditions that are vulnerable to the coronavirus. Please think of them before you decide to go into public or travel. Be safe and continue to pray for our health care workers, first responders, and all of our people,” 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.