The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2020

40 new cases, 7,358 recoveries, and no recent deaths related to COVID-19 as Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico report large increases in new cases

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Wednesday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 40 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. The total number of deaths remains 571 as previously reported on Monday. Reports indicate that 7,358 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 113,985 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 10,780.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,475
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 957
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 1,112
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,709
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,355
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,651
• Tuba City Service Unit: 1,012
• Winslow Service Unit: 498

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

The Navajo Nation will have a 56-hour weekend lockdown beginning on Friday, Oct. 16 at 9:00 p.m. (MDT) until Monday, Oct. 19 at 5:00 a.m. (MDT). The daily curfew on weekdays begins at 9:00 p.m. (MDT) to 5:00 a.m. (MDT).

On Wednesday, the state of New Mexico reported 577 new cases of COVID-19, the state of Arizona reported 902 new cases, and Utah reported 1,144.

“Today, the state of New Mexico reported its largest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases, and the states of Arizona and Utah reported massive increases compared to yesterday’s numbers. The safest place for our Navajo people to be is at home on the Navajo Nation. We continue to have cluster cases caused by family gatherings and travel off the Nation. Our public health experts are working hard to save lives and to keep our people healthy and safe, so we need to do our part to help. Stay home as much as possible, wear a mask, practice social distancing, avoid crowds, and wash your hands often,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

On Wednesday, the Nez-Lizer Administration collaborated with World Central Kitchen and the CORE Foundation to distribute food and care packages to 783 families in the communities of Smith Lake, Mariano Lake, Pinedale, and Church Rock in New Mexico.

On Thursday, Oct. 15 at 6:00 p.m. (MDT), President Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer will host an online town hall on the Nez-Lizer Facebook page to provide updates on COVID-19.

“The numbers reported by the states of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico are very troubling. Here on the Navajo Nation, reports indicate that contact tracers are doing a good job in tracking new cases to help positive COVID-19 individuals isolate to prevent further spread of the virus. We cannot thank our health experts and first responders enough for everything they are doing. Continue to pray and to be optimistic,” 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: http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. For COVID-19 related questions and information, call (928) 871-7014.

https://www.facebook.com/NezLizer2018/posts/2625416587723868