The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2020

6,775 recoveries, 28 new cases, and one more death related to COVID-19 as Navajo Nation prepares for 32-hour weekend lockdown

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — On Thursday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 28 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and one more death. The total number of deaths has reached 468 as of Thursday. Reports indicate that 6,775 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 83,769 people have been tested for COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation is 9,223.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,240
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 772
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 695
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,494
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,274
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,442
• Tuba City Service Unit: 862
• Winslow Service Unit: 437

* Seven 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 1,444 new cases of COVID-19, while New Mexico reported 212 new cases, and Utah reported 587 new cases. The Navajo Nation will implement a 32-hour weekend lockdown ‪beginning on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 9:00 p.m. (MDT) until Monday, Aug. 10 at 5:00 a.m. The daily curfew will also be changed to ‪9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

“With the revised hours for the weekend lockdown, it presents more time for families to prepare for the upcoming winter season by gathering fire wood, supplies, food, and other essential items. The winter season will present more challenges due to the flu season, so we all need to remain diligent about staying home, washing hands, wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding large crowds. Please continue to pray for our communities, front line warriors, and those fighting the virus.” 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.

“Contracting tracing is key to isolating the virus. So far, the contact tracers have identified traveling, going to restaurants, and other public areas as a major contributing factor to the current new cases of COVID-19. With the 32-hour weekend lockdown, we are hopeful that more of our citizens will stay home, spend time with their families, and take care of household tasks,” 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.