The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2020

104 new cases of COVID-19, four more deaths, and 1,397 recoveries reported as 57-hour weekend lockdown remains in effect

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Department of Health in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service reported 104 new cases of COVID-19 for the Navajo Nation. The total number of deaths has reached 153 as of Saturday. Preliminary reports from eight health care facilities indicate that approximately 1,397 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, with more reports still pending. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation has reached 4,633. 

The Navajo Nation’s current 57-hour weekend lockdown remains in effect, which includes the closure of all businesses to deter traveling and to keep people home and safe from the COVID-19 virus, to help prevent the further spread of COVID-19. 

“If you look at the daily numbers of positive cases over the last couple of weeks, it appears that the curve is flattening. The number of daily new cases fluctuates, but not to a large degree. We’ve had some days with large numbers of new cases and that’s because we’re testing aggressively. Contact tracing, testing, and the public health orders are all making a difference and reducing hospital visits. We have to remain diligent and practice social distancing in order to begin to see a consistent decrease in daily numbers of new cases. Let’s keeping fighting hard and thinking of others, especially our elders,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. 

The Navajo Nation’s 57-hour weekend lockdown requires all residents to remain at home except essential workers, first responders, and health care workers. Essential businesses, including stores, gas stations, restaurants, drive-thru food establishments, hay vendors, and other vendors, shall cease all operations during the lockdown. 

“We know there are a lot of grieving families and our prayers are with them. Some have lost multiple family members and it’s heartbreaking to hear their stories. We should all be thankful for every day of life we are given and please abide by the stay-at-home order and weekend lockdown. We are getting through this together and we are overcoming this pandemic and soon we will reach the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Vice President Myron Lizer. 

The Office of the President and Vice President has distributed food, bottled water, and other supplies to over 8,000 families in 60 communities on the Navajo Nation to help people stay home and stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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.