The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2020

COVID-19 related cases continue to decrease as Navajo Nation’s daily curfew and requirement to wear face mask remains in effect

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Tuesday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 43 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and one new death. The total number of deaths is 336 as of Tuesday. Reports from 11 health care facilities on and near the Navajo Nation indicate that approximately 3,754 individuals recovered from COVID-19, with one health care facility report still pending. 50,185 people have been tested for COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation is 7,088.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 1,841
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 648
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 425
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,211
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,013
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,148
• Tuba City Service Unit: 588
• Winslow Service Unit: 206

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

The Navajo Nation’s public health emergency orders, including requiring the use of protective masks in public and the daily curfews from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., are still in effect throughout the Navajo Nation. Navajo police continue to enforce the daily curfew and may issue a citation to curfew violators.

“COVID-19 is a serious respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death, and the Nation cannot take any chances. The virus can spread from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes. To protect yourself and others, wear a face-covering in public and when you are sick. The number of positive cases is decreasing, and there are more recoveries each day, and it gives us hope that we are doing the right thing by staying home, washing our hands, and wearing a face mask. We can beat this virus,” said President Jonathan Nez.

President Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer also advise citizens to use hand sanitizers safely. When using hand sanitizer, apply the product to the palm of one hand and rub it all over the surfaces of your hands until hands are dry. Only use hand sanitizer on your hands. Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning. Hand sanitizer should be stored out of reach of children and should be used with adult supervision. Do not use hand sanitizers that contain methanol. Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system, or death. 

“We pray for all of the families that have lost their loved ones. Although we are seeing good signs with today’s number of new cases, please remember all of the people who are missing their parents, grandparents, siblings, and others due to COVID-19,” said Vice President Lizer.

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 http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. For COVID-19 related questions and information, call (928) 871-7014.

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