The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2021

175 new cases, 12,690 recoveries, and three more deaths related to COVID-19 as 57-hour weekend lockdown continues

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 175 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and three more deaths. The total number of deaths is now 869 as of Saturday. Reports indicate that 12,690 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 215,106 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 24,979, including 25 delayed reported cases.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 4,646
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 2,538
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 2,621
• Gallup Service Unit: 4,012
• Kayenta Service Unit: 2,345
• Shiprock Service Unit: 4,384
• Tuba City Service Unit: 2,805
• Winslow Service Unit: 1,596

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

On Saturday, the state of Arizona reported 11,094 new cases, Utah reported 2,613, and New Mexico reported 1,507 new cases. The Navajo Nation’s 57-hour weekend lockdown is in effect until Monday, Jan. 11 at 5:00 a.m. (MST), requiring all Navajo Nation residents to remain home with the exception of essential workers and cases of emergencies.

“It appears that the recent holidays combined with the federal relief funds that people are receiving are contributing to the high numbers of daily COVID-19 cases that we are seeing. The Office of the Controller recently reported that the hardship assistance funds will begin to be distributed next week as well. It is everyone’s responsibility to take precautions and hold your loved ones accountable. When the federal government issued relief funds several months ago, we saw a spike in new cases as a result of more people traveling and going into public. This time, we have to do better. We know more about COVID-19 now and we know that staying home and wearing masks works to reduce the spread of the virus. Please continue to pray for our people and 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.

Due to consistent reports of high numbers of daily COVID-19 cases, Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-001 will take effect on Monday, Jan. 11, extending the stay-at-home order and 57-hour weekend lockdowns through Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. The order is available online at: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19.

“The light at the end of this dark tunnel gets a little lighter day by day, as the COVID-19 vaccines continue to be administered across the country. There is high demand for the vaccines in every part of the country, so please be patient and understand that our health care system is doing their best to help as many of our people as they can. Unfortunately, our health care workers are also being challenged by the high number of cases and the continued spread of the virus. Please be diligent and continue to pray for our Nation,” said Vice President Myron Lizer.

COVID-19 testing schedules are available online at the Navajo Health Command Operations Center website: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19/COVID-19-Testing. 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.