The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2020

42 new positive cases of COVID-19

reported for the Navajo Nation, two additional deaths

WINDOW ROCK – The total number of positive tests for COVID-19 has reached 426 for the Navajo Nation as of Tuesday – an increase of 42 positive cases since Monday, 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 17 confirmed deaths related to COVID-19.

The 426 confirmed positive cases include the following counties:

• Navajo County, AZ: 164
• Apache County, AZ: 44
• Coconino County, AZ: 102
• McKinley County, NM: 32
• San Juan County, NM: 66
• Cibola County, NM: 8
• San Juan County, UT: 7
• Socorro County, NM: 2
• Bernalillo County, NM: 1

“The Navajo Nation can implement and enforce curfews and restrictions, but ultimately it’s up to you. We must practice T’áá hwó’ ajít’éego, self-determination, our Diné people must know that they also have the power to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We have the power to save lives, especially those that have compromised immune systems. We must work together to protect our people, our way of life and who we are as Diné,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

On Tuesday, President Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer teamed up with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Arizona National Guard to assess several possible sites for Federal Medical Station in the communities of Kayenta and Tuba City, to help patient overflow from local health care facilities due to the spread of COVID-19. A report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected in the next few days. 

Other communities are also being considered for Federal Medical Station sites including Shiprock, Crownpoint, Fort Defiance, and others. They also continue to hold regular phones calls with federal agencies, state partners, and members of Congress to facilitate the distribution of more resources and funds. 

“The numbers are very alarming, but we must also remember that many people who test positive eventually recover from the virus — that’s the good news. We need to ramp up efforts to keep our people home and safe as much as possible. This weekend’s 57-hour curfew is the next step in keeping our communities safe,” said Vice President Lizer.

President Nez continues to urge the general public to use protective masks, including homemade masks, and protective gloves if they are required to work or when going to stores for essential items such as food and medicine.  

The Navajo Nation’s daily curfew continues to be enforced by the Navajo Police. Checkpoints are setup regularly and citations and fines up to $1,000 may be issued for those who violate the curfew order that requires residents to remain home between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. each day. This weekend’s 57-hour curfew will begin on Friday at 8:00 p.m. until Monday at 5:00 a.m.

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.