The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2020

6,585 recoveries, 15 new cases, and five more deaths 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 15 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and five more deaths. The total number of deaths has reached 446 as of Tuesday. Reports indicate that 6,585 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 78,501 people have been tested for COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation is 8,927.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,198
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 756
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 641
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,462
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,244
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,397
• Tuba City Service Unit: 828
• Winslow Service Unit: 398

* Three 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 2,107 new cases of COVID-19, while New Mexico reported 301 new cases, and Utah reported 446 new cases. The Navajo Nation will have another 57-hour weekend lockdowns beginning on Friday, July 31 at 8:00 p.m. until Monday, Aug. 3 at 5:00 a.m. All businesses on the Navajo Nation will remain closed for the duration of the weekend lockdown.

“It’s because of the Navajo people that our Nation is seeing a consistent flattening of the curve in terms of new COVID-19 cases. The people are listening to the health care experts when they are told to stay home, wear masks, social distance, wash hands, and avoid large gatherings. We only have 15 new cases reported today, but we have to remain diligent and keeping fighting the virus together,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

The Department of Health and the Health Command Operations Center is also preparing for the upcoming winter flu season. They have also created a vaccination group to develop plans securing and distributing a vaccine for COVID-19 once one is proven to be safe and made available.

“We know the fight is long from over. We don’t have a vaccine yet, but the Department of Health is developing a vaccination plan that will be implemented once a safe vaccine is available. Until then, we have to continue what we are doing and continue to pray for our frontline warriors 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 at http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. For COVID-19 related questions and information, call (928) 871-7014.