The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2020

5,218 recoveries, 17 new cases, one more death reported as Navajo Nation extends emergency declaration, government closure, and weekend lockdowns

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 17 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and one more death. The total number of deaths is 364 as of Tuesday. Reports from all 12 health care facilities on and near the Navajo Nation indicate that approximately 5,218 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 55,626 people have been tested for COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation is 7,549.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 1,945
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 662
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 470
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,277
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,073
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,212
• Tuba City Service Unit: 641
• Winslow Service Unit: 265

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

On Tuesday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer signed an executive order to extend the Navajo Nation’s declaration of a state of emergency and the closure of government offices and entities until July 26, 2020. The Department of Health also issued another Public Health Emergency Order to implement full 57-hour weekend lockdowns from July 3, 2020 to July 6, 2020 from July 10, 2020 to July 13, 2020, and from July 17, 2020 to July 20, 2020, starting at 8:00 P.M. (MDT) on Friday and ending at 5:00 A.M. (MDT) on Monday. Additional weekend lockdowns may follow.

During a live town hall held on Tuesday, President Nez presented data from the Department of Health that shows a steady flattening of the curve for COVID-19 cases indicating that the weekend lockdowns, daily curfews, requiring face masks, and other precautions are working.

“The data presented by the Department of Health strongly indicates that the precautionary measures we have implemented since the start of the virus on the Navajo Nation in mid-March are working. We have to remain focused and not let up. Other states began relaxing their precautionary measures far too soon and now they are seeing the consequences with large increases in new cases, hospital visits, and hospital bed usage. Here on the Navajo Nation, we are seeing good signs, but we have to keep the weekend lockdowns and other measures in place for the time being,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

In addition to the weekend lockdowns, the daily curfew also remains in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on weekdays to help flatten the curve.

“The data supports the measures we are taking to keep our people safe and healthy. This has been a long battle, but it’s not over. We know some people are frustrated, but we have to stay diligent and stay on this path until we see consistent decreases in new cases of COVID-19. Please continue to pray for our people, first responders, and many others who are fighting along-side us,” 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 at http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. For COVID-19 related questions and information, call (928) 871-7014.

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