The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2020

5,059 recoveries, 42 new cases, two more deaths related to COVID-19 reported as 57-hour weekend lockdown takes effect 

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — On Friday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 42 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and two more deaths. The total number of deaths is 350 as of Friday. Reports from all 12 health care facilities on and near the Navajo Nation indicate that approximately 5,059 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 52,960 people have been tested for COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation is 7,320.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 1,894
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 652
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 446
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,242
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,048
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,175
• Tuba City Service Unit: 597
• Winslow Service Unit: 258

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

The Navajo Nation’s 57-hour weekend lockdown begins on Friday, June 26 at 8:00 p.m. until Monday, June 29 at 5:00 a.m. and includes the closure of all businesses.

“This modern-day monster called COVID-19 is a challenge that we, as Navajo people, have the power to overcome by following the advice of our health care experts. We have the solutions – stay home, wear a mask, wash your hands, and practice social distancing. During these weekend lockdowns, we should not be traveling to nearby towns or cities to getaway. There is clearly a spike in new cases in several states, but here on the Navajo Nation we continue to flatten the curve and we do not want to see another wave of cases because our health care system cannot handle another wave,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

On Friday, the Nez-Lizer team distributed 3,000 food boxes to Navajo families at the fairgrounds in Window Rock, which included fresh vegetables and bottled water to help families eat healthy and build their immune systems to fight off viruses and other health conditions. The Nez-Lizer Administration thanks World Vision for donating the food boxes and Larry Watson with the Church of Jesus Christ for donating the bottled water for Friday’s distribution event.

“We are in this together and we will overcome this together. For many families, this has been a tough journey, but we continue to pray for all of our Navajo people. Our Nation’s frontline warriors are fighting for all of our people and they continue to put their lives on the line every day. Words cannot express how grateful we are for them and for the sacrifices that their families are making,” said Vice President Myron Lizer.

If you or someone you know needs help dealing with stress or the emotional effects of COVID-19, call the Navajo Regional Behavioral Health Center at (505) 368-1438 or (505) 368-1467, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday (MDT).

For more information, including isolation sites 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.