The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2020

5,731 recoveries, 61 new cases, and four 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 61 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and four more deaths. The total number of deaths has reached 386 as of Thursday.

Reports from all 12 health care facilities on and near the Navajo Nation indicate that approximately 5,731 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 62,185 people have been tested for COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation is 8,042.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,010
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 690
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 511
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,339
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,143
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,292
• Tuba City Service Unit: 728
• Winslow Service Unit: 325

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

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez continues to urge all members of the Navajo Nation to wear masks and practice social distancing in public. Beginning on Friday, July 10 at 8:00 p.m., the Navajo Nation’s 57-hour weekend lockdown will take effect and last until Monday, July 13 at 5:00 a.m. All businesses on the Navajo Nation are also required to close for the lockdown to help prevent travel among residents and visitors.

“The weekend lockdowns are very challenging for our Navajo Police Officers. Throughout this pandemic, our police officers have devoted long hours and most have not taken time off from work in order to protect our communities during the pandemic so it’s really a personal responsibility to stay home and comply with the weekend lockdown. Hold each other accountable and if you have loved ones who are planning to travel to the Navajo Nation from surrounding cities, please tell them that it’s not safe and that they are posing serious risks to their families and their communities. We’re not backing down from this fight against COVID-19, but we can’t beat this virus without the help of all our Navajo people,” said President Nez.

The Navajo Nation’s Stay at Home Order remains in effect requiring all individuals on the Navajo Nation to stay at home and strictly limit movement, and limit public contact with others. Individuals may leave their place of residence only for emergencies or to perform “Essential Activities.” All residents are also required to avoid close contact with people who are sick, wash your hands for 20 seconds often, avoid touching high-touch surfaces, wear a mask, clean and disinfect your home, avoid public gatherings, and avoid non-essential travel.

“The fight against COVID-19 and we want to let all of our first responders know that we support you, we appreciate everything you are doing, and that your work is not going unnoticed. You are helping to save lives and keep our communities safe and our people healthy. We are flattening the curve here on the Navajo Nation and we have to remain diligent and stay home as much as possible,” said Vice President Myron 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.