The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2021

37 new cases, 30,591 recoveries, and one more death 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 37 new COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation and one more death. The total number of deaths remains 1,398. The report indicates that 30,539 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 308,404 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The overall total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 32,315, including two delayed reported cases. 

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 5,891
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 3,102
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 3,846
• Gallup Service Unit: 5,142
• Kayenta Service Unit: 2,867
• Shiprock Service Unit: 5,462
• Tuba City Service Unit: 3,927
• Winslow Service Unit: 2,059

* 19 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 2,595 new cases, Utah reported 1,140 new cases, and New Mexico reported 876 new cases. 

“With the Pfizer vaccine now having full approval from the Federal Drug Administration, we are hopeful that we will see an increase in the vaccine percentage on the Navajo Nation. The best chance we have against COVID-19 and the Delta variant is to get more people fully vaccinated, wear masks in public, and keep taking precautions. Many of the cases that we are seeing now are due to off Nation travel where people visit border towns and cities and don’t wear masks and don’t take precautions. Social and family gatherings are also leading to increases in new cases. We have to do better and must continue to listen to the public health experts. Please be safe and get vaccinated as soon as possible,” 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. 

“Thanks to our public health experts and frontline workers, we have the guidance and knowledge to keep ourselves safe and healthy. We have to take precautions every day, and wear masks in public if we are to see a reduction in the spread of the virus soon. Be safe and keep praying for 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 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.