The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2021

10 new cases, 16,288 recoveries, and three more deaths related to COVID-19 

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Wednesday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 10 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and three more deaths. The total number of deaths is now 1,222 as of Wednesday. Reports indicate that 16,288 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 250,106 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 29,968, including one delayed reported case.  

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 5,512
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 2,869
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 3,568
• Gallup Service Unit: 4,735
• Kayenta Service Unit: 2,646
• Shiprock Service Unit: 5,025
• Tuba City Service Unit: 3,634
• Winslow Service Unit: 1,961

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

On Wednesday, the state of Arizona reported 445 new cases, Utah reported 699, and New Mexico reported 255 new cases. On Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. (MDT), the Navajo Nation will hold a virtual COVID-19 Memorial event on the Nez-Lizer Facebook page and YouTube channel to mark one-year since the first confirmed case of COVID-19. A moment of silence will be held during the event in honor and remembrance of all the lives lost to COVID-19 in the past year. 

“As we continue through this COVID-19 pandemic, it’s very important to keep ourselves informed of new developments and the trends in cases and the variants. In the last two days, the state of Utah’s overall number of new cases has doubled from each previous day. This is very concerning for our Navajo people who reside in Utah and for all of our communities. We have to stay the course, keep taking all precautions, and limit our travel to only essential activities. The U.K. and California variants are very concerning in regions near the Navajo Nation, so please continue to stay home as much as possible, wear one or two masks in public and near others who do not reside under the same household as you, avoid large crowds and gatherings, practice social distancing, and wash your hands often. The safest place to be is at home here on the Navajo Nation,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

On Monday, March 15, the Navajo Nation transitioned from “red status” to “orange status” in accordance with gating measures and indicators that took into account several factors including the declining number of COVID-19 cases, testing availability, hospital capacity and bed usage, and contact tracing. The Navajo Nation’s daily curfew remains in effect from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. (MDT) seven days a week. The latest public health emergency orders are available online at: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19.

“Thanks to our public health officials, we know how to beat COVID-19 but it takes all of us working together. Our public health experts have guided us to this point where we see low numbers of cases and hospitalizations, so we have to continue to trust their data and recommendations. Please be safe and continue to pray for our health care workers, those suffering with the virus, those who have lost loved ones, and all of our Navajo 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.