The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2020

3,414 new recoveries, 85 new cases, and two more deaths related to COVID-19 reported

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Thursday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 85 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and two more deaths. The total number of deaths reached 324 as of Thursday. Reports from 11 health care facilities on and near the Navajo Nation indicate that approximately 3,414 individuals recovered from COVID-19, with one health care facility report still pending. 47,039 people have been tested for COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation is 6,832.

Here are the Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 1,776
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 622
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 406
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,156
• Kayenta Service Unit: 985
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,119
• Tuba City Service Unit: 557
• Winslow Service Unit: 203

* Eight residences with COVID-19 positive cases are not specific enough to place them accurately in a Service Unit.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer continue to urge Navajo citizens to remain home as much as possible to avoid another spike in new cases, especially as other areas in the state of Arizona continue to see daily increases in new cases.

“Please do not let your guard down against this monster called the coronavirus. We cannot go back to the way things were until the daily numbers decrease consistently, and until we have a vaccine. We must practice all of the preventative measures to keep our families and communities safe and healthy. It may be hard to accept the changes in our lifestyles, but we have to accept it together and move forward. Don’t back down and stay home as much as possible,” said President Nez.

The Navajo Police Department and county sheriff departments will establish road checkpoints throughout the Navajo Nation during this weekend’s 57-hour lockdown. Curfew violators who receive a criminal nuisance citation could be fined up to $1,000 and/or up to 30 days in jail. All businesses on the Nation will be closed during the lockdown and all Navajo tribal parks are closed to visitors until further notice.

“We’ve got some good strong momentum, so let’s keep up the good work by making good decisions for ourselves and others. The light at the end of this dark tunnel is slowly getting brighter and brighter each day. Keep praying for all of our people, especially the health care workers, police officers, and many others on the frontlines,” said Vice President Lizer.

On Thursday, the Nez-Lizer team distributed food, bottled water, diapers, pet food, protective face masks, and other supplies to 1,110 Navajo families in the communities of Pinon and Fort Defiance in Arizona.

For more information, including helpful prevention tips, and resources to help stop the spread of COVID-19, visit the Navajo Department of Health’s COVID-19 website at ‪http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. For COVID-19 related questions and information call ‪(928) 871-7014.