The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2020

2,814 recoveries, 90 new cases, and no recent deaths related to

COVID-19 reported as 602 families receive food and other supplies

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 90 new cases of COVID-19 for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths as of Monday. The total number of deaths remains at 277 as previously reported. Preliminary reports from 11 health care facilities indicate that approximately 2,814 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, with one health care facility report still pending. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation has reached 6,110.

Navajo Nation cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 1,594
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 576
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 347
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,036
• Kayenta Service Unit: 909
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,021
• Tuba City Service Unit: 492
• Winslow Service Unit: 127

* Eight residences are not specific enough to place them accurately in a Service Unit

On Monday, the Nez-Lizer team distributed food, bottled water, protective face masks, and other supplies to 602 Navajo families in the communities of Cove, Red Valley, Lukachukai, and Red Lake. The administration has now delivered essential items to well over 14,000 families in total. 

“In other parts of Arizona there continues to be increases in new cases of COVID-19 since the Memorial Day weekend. Here on the Navajo Nation, we are maintaining a steady flattening of the curve in terms of new cases. We can’t let up – this may seem repetitive, but we have to keep saying it over and over so that our people understand the severity and understand that there will be consequences if we allow ourselves to become too relaxed. We are beating the projections and we have to stay the course if we want to avoid a second wave of the virus and keep bringing our numbers down,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began on the Navajo Nation, President Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer have relied on data and reports from health care experts to determine the need for public health emergency orders and restrictions to help slow and prevent the spread of the virus.

“Every day, the light at the end of this dark tunnel gets a little brighter. Let’s remember what it took to reach this point. Many of our people have lost loved ones and many are fighting for their lives still. Let’s pray for them and let’s think of others whenever we get the urge to travel or to go into public. We are making progress, but please remember that this is a dangerous virus and one that can easily make a return if we are not careful. To our health care workers and first responders, thank you for all that you continue to sacrifice to be on the frontlines fighting for our people,” said Vice President Myron Lizer.

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 primary Navajo Health Command Operations Center, please call (928) 871-7014.

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