The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2020

6,437 recoveries, 22 new cases, and three more deaths related to COVID-19 reported

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 22 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and three more deaths. The total number of deaths has reached 425 as of Tuesday.

Reports indicate that approximately 6,437 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 74,045 people have been tested for COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation is 8,639.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,158
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 739
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 585
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,409
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,216
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,360
• Tuba City Service Unit: 794
• Winslow Service Unit: 375

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

The Navajo Department of Health has issued Public Health Emergency Order No. 2020-018, implementing two additional 57-hour weekend lockdowns ‪from July 24, 2020 to July 27, 2020 and ‪from July 31, 2020 to August 3, 2020, ‪starting at 8:00 P.M. MDT on Friday and ‪ending at 5:00 A.M. MDT on Monday.

On Tuesday, the state of Arizona reported 3,500 new cases of COVID-19, while New Mexico reported 307 new cases, and Utah reported 486 new cases. The Nez-Lizer Administration is preparing for the flu season, which is expected to lead to more challenges in handling COVID-19.

“We have to be prepared for the flu season and we also need to dedicate more resources to secure and distribute flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines when testing is completed, and made safely available. The large majority of our Navajo people are complying with the public health emergency orders and our daily numbers are flattening on a consistent basis. We now have our 26th consecutive day with less than 100 COVID-19 cases and our fifth consecutive day of 50 or less cases reported. We have to keep wearing our masks, practicing social distancing, avoiding gatherings, washing your hands, and staying home as much as possible. This is going to be long fight and we cannot let our guard up now,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan 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.” The daily curfew also remains in effect ‪from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on weekdays.

“Our ultimate goal is to get to zero cases, but the reality is that cities and towns around the Navajo Nation continue to see a large number of daily cases. Our frontline warriors continue to do a wonderful job helping our people. Please continue to pray for our first responders, our communities, and those fighting for their lives at this moment,” 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.