The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2020

354 total positive cases of COVID-19 for

the Navajo Nation, one more death confirmed

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The total number of positive tests for COVID-19 has reached 354 for the Navajo Nation as of Sunday – an increase of 33 cases since Saturday, according to the Navajo Department of Health and Navajo Area Indian Health Service, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center. There is now a total of 14 confirmed deaths related to COVID-19. There were 1,796 negative results as of Thursday. 

The 354 confirmed positive cases include the following counties:

Navajo County, AZ: 149

Apache County, AZ: 33                                                                

Coconino County, AZ: 94

McKinley County, NM: 17

San Juan County, NM: 45

Cibola County, NM: 7

San Juan County, UT: 7

Socorro County, NM: 2

The Navajo Police continue to issue citations and fines for individuals who violate the Navajo Nation’s “Stay at Home Order” and daily curfew that requires all residents to be home between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Navajo Police Chief Phillip B. Francisco stated that police are also setting up checkpoints on roadways to further enforce the orders, check essential work documentation, and direct those who are not on essential travel to return home. 

“You may be young and healthy, but please be mindful of your elders – your parents and grandparents. Their immune system may not be as strong as yours and they need to be protected. The majority of those who have lost their lives are those older than 60-year-old. Projections indicate that we have not reached the peak of the spread of COVID-19, so please take every precaution and stay home as much as possible,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

During a live online town hall on Sunday, President Nez continued to urge the general public to use protective masks, including homemade masks, and protective gloves in public to help prevent the spread of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also issued similar recommendations.

“Take it upon yourselves to help us spread the word and urge everyone to stay home as much as possible. There are far too many people who continue unnecessary travel and going into public. Please leave your children home and only send one family member to the store if you need essential items. The virus is spreading quickly and we need to isolate it as much as possible,” stated Vice President Myron Lizer. 

The Navajo Nation’s daily curfew remains in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. The curfew does not apply to essential employees reporting to or from duty, with official identification and/or a letter of designation from their essential business employer on official letterhead which includes a contact for verification.

For more information including reports, helpful prevention tips, and more resources, please visit the Navajo Department of Health’s COVID-19 website at http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. To contact the main Navajo Health Command Operations Center, please call (928) 871-7014.