The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2020

19 new cases, 6,893 recoveries, and no recent deaths related to COVID-19 as President Nez urges public to wear masks throughout the upcoming flu season

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 19 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. The total number of deaths remains 473 as previously reported on Monday. 6,893 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 86,258 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases is 9,334 and negative tests total 72,270.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,258
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 778
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 722
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,506
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,283
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,458
• Tuba City Service Unit: 886
• Winslow Service Unit: 439

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

On Tuesday, the state of Arizona reported 1,213 new cases of COVID-19, while New Mexico reported 202 new cases, and Utah reported 362 new cases. During an online town hall on Tuesday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez urged all Navajo Nation residents to continue wearing protective masks in public throughout the upcoming flu season, which begins in October and lasts for several months.

“If we continue to remain diligent about wearing masks in public now and throughout the upcoming flu season, I believe we will continue to flatten the curve for COVID-19 and we will also lower the number of flu cases here on the Navajo Nation. We know that wearing masks properly and consistently is helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation. If we become complacent and too relaxed, we will begin to see increases in new COVID-19 cases just as we have seen in other parts of Arizona and other states. Our health care system on the Navajo Nation cannot handle another spike in new cases. We have to think ahead and plan for the future and do everything we can right now to minimize the impacts of the upcoming flu season. Whether we like it or not, we are going to have to deal with COVID-19 for some time until there is a vaccine available. The Navajo people are doing a good job right now and we need to keep it up and keep fighting this virus together,” said President Nez.

The Navajo Nation will have another 32-hour weekend lockdown beginning on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 9:00 p.m. (MDT) until Monday, Aug. 17 at 5:00 a.m. All businesses will be closed for the duration of the weekend lockdown.

“Please continue to wear your masks, wash your hands, practice social distancing, and all other precautionary measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. We have an incredible team of health care workers and experts who are guiding us along the way and we have to support them and continue to pray for them as well. We will overcome the COVID-19 pandemic together,” 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.

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