The Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2020

76 new cases and one more death related to COVID-19 reported

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Department of Health in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 76 new cases of COVID-19 and a total of 49 deaths for the Navajo Nation as of Wednesday. As of Wednesday, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation is 1,282, which includes 606 men and 676 women with an average age of 48-years-old. The average age among deaths is 65-years-old. 

The 1,282 confirmed positive cases on the Navajo Nation include the following counties:

• Navajo County, AZ: 342
• Apache County, AZ: 260
• Coconino County, AZ: 222
• McKinley County, NM: 270
• San Juan County, NM: 128
• Cibola County, NM: 14
• San Juan County, UT: 16
• Socorro County, NM: 17
• Sandoval County, NM: 13

“Unfortunately, today we had to file a lawsuit against the federal government to get our share of the federal dollars that have been allocated for tribes. The First Americans are once again having to fight for what is right and what is ours. Now is the time for us as Diné people to be united against COVID-19, by adhering to the Navajo Nation’s shelter-in-place order and the daily and weekend curfews. Some states are beginning to consider loosening restrictions, but not the Navajo Nation. We are relying on the health care experts and the facts as we continue the fight against COVID-19,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. 

The Navajo Nation extended its declaration of a state of emergency and also extended the closure of Navajo Nation government offices and related entities until May 17, to help slow the spread of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation. The previous Executive Order was set to expire on April 26. 

“To our Navajo people, please remain diligent in practicing social distancing and by remaining home as much as possible. Our frontline warriors are out there fighting to protect and heal our people, so let’s stay home for them. We have police officers who are recovering from the virus, so please keep them in your prayers. We will get through this together,” Vice President Lizer stated. 

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.

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