The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2021

9 new cases, 29,356 recoveries, and two 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 nine new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and two more deaths. The total number of deaths is now 1,297 as of Wednesday. Reports indicate that 29,356 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 271,015 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 30,747.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 5,589
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 2,954
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 3,659
• Gallup Service Unit: 4,881
• Kayenta Service Unit: 2,725
• Shiprock Service Unit: 5,198
• Tuba City Service Unit: 3,736
• Winslow Service Unit: 1,986

* 19 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 540 new cases, Utah reported 430, and New Mexico reported 160 cases. 

“We are seeing consistently low numbers of new COVID-19 infections, but the Navajo Department of Health has noted that if you look at the overall number of cases over the last seven days, we’ve had 71 new cases reported. I point this out to remind our Navajopeople that we are not out of this pandemic. Yes, we are seeing good improvements and progress is being made, but there remains risk of the virus in our communities, which includes the variants that have been identified here on the Navajo Nation. Our best weapons to push back on COVID-19 are the vaccines and wearing a mask in public. The vaccines are widely available to people 12 years of age and older, so please consider getting vaccinated if you haven’t already. Be safe and continue to take precautions to help keep our people safe,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

Health care facilities across the Navajo Nation continue to administer COVID-19 vaccines during drive-thru events or by appointment. If you would like to receive the vaccine, please contact your health care provider for more information for your Service Unit. 

“Thank you to our Navajo people and frontline warriors for everything you are doing to push back on COVID-19. We have to continue to stay the course by taking precautions. It’s a wonderful time of the year with so many of our young people graduating, but at the same time we have to remain mindful of the risks associated with COVID-19 and take precautions to keep ourselves safe. Please be safe and continue to pray,” said Vice President Myron Lizer.

For more information, including helpful prevention tips, and resources to help stop the spread of COVID-19, visit the NavajoDepartment 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.