The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2022

142 new cases, 42,074 recoveries, and two deaths related to COVID-19, 86 communities identified with uncontrolled spread

WINDOW ROCK, Arizona – On Wednesday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 142 new COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation and two deaths. The total number of deaths is 1,602. The report indicates that 42,074 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 451,472 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The overall total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 46,114, including 218 delayed reported cases.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 8,602
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 4,383
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 5,011
• Gallup Service Unit: 7,714
• Kayenta Service Unit: 4,094
• Shiprock Service Unit: 8,282
• Tuba City Service Unit: 5,441
• Winslow Service Unit: 2,565

* 22 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 20,497 new cases, Utah reported 12,564 new cases, and New Mexico reported 5,735. Based on cases from Dec. 31, 2021 to Jan. 13, 2022, the Navajo Department of Health issued a Health Advisory Notice for the following 86 communities due to uncontrolled spread of COVID-19:

“Last week, we had 61 communities identified with uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 and now we have 86 communities this week. This increase demonstrates the high level of contagiousness of the Omicron variant from person to person. On the upside, the high vaccination rate among our Navajo people is making the difference when it comes to maintaining our health system and not overwhelming our hospital bed capacity on the NavajoNation. The COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in reducing COVID-19 symptoms and saving lives. Please get vaccinated, get a booster shot, wear two masks in public, do not attend in-person family gatherings where people tend to let their guard down, and keep praying for our frontline warriors and all of our people,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

Health care facilities on the Navajo Nation continue to administer COVID-19 vaccines. If you would like to receive one of the COVID-19 vaccines, please contact your health care provider and schedule an appointment.

“If you experience symptoms related to COVID-19 such as coughing, sore throat, fever, or body aches, please do your best to quarantine and get tested as quickly as possible. If you are sick, please do not go into public, do not go into work in-person, and do your best to isolate. We are in this together and we have to keep pushing back on COVID-19,” 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.