The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2020

6,697 recoveries, 13 new cases, and four more deaths related to COVID-19

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Saturday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 13 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and four more deaths. The total number of deaths has reached 460 as of Saturday. Reports indicate that 6,697 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 81,460 people have been tested for COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation is 9,068.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,222
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 758
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 659
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,483
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,251
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,421
• Tuba City Service Unit: 843
• Winslow Service Unit: 428

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

On Saturday, the state of Arizona reported 2,992 new cases of COVID-19, while New Mexico reported 210 new cases, and Utah reported 506 new cases. The Navajo Nation’s 57-hour weekend lockdown is currently in effect ‪until Monday, Aug. 3 at 5:00 a.m. All businesses will be closed for the duration of the lockdown.

“In comparison to where we were a couple months ago, 13 new cases reported today is a very low number. Until there is a safe and proven vaccine for COVID-19, we cannot let down our guard. We have to keep listening to the health care experts and those who are on the frontlines fighting this virus. Keep staying home as much as possible, wearing protective masks in public, practicing social distancing, washing your hands, and avoiding large crowds. The Navajo people are doing a great job and we have to keep fighting COVID-19 together,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

The Department of Health continues to work together with the Nation’s health care facilities and a team of contact tracers to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. President Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer commend the health care workers for their collaborative work in keeping the Navajo people safe.

“Plenty of work and collaboration is being done behind the scenes among Department of Health Executive Director Dr. Jill Jim and her team, the Health Command Operations Center, the doctors, nurses, contact tracers, and many others. A lot of their work and contributions go unnoticed, but we are certainly grateful for their dedication and commitment to helping the Navajo people,” said Vice President 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.