The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2020

14 new cases, 7,396 recoveries, and one more death related to COVID-19 as Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona report increases in daily cases

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Monday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 14 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and one more death. The total number of deaths is now 574 as of Monday. Reports indicate that 7,396 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 116,676 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 10,969.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,500
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 1,015
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 1,148
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,719
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,358
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,696
• Tuba City Service Unit: 1,023
• Winslow Service Unit: 512

* 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. 23 at 9:00 p.m. (MDT) until Monday, Oct. 26 at 5:00 a.m. (MDT). On Monday, the state of New Mexico reported 518 new cases of COVID-19, the state of Arizona reported 748 new cases, and Utah reported 1,168.

“Compared to yesterday’s reported cases, the states of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico reported increases in new daily cases. As leaders, we can tell our people to stay home and listen to the health care experts, but it comes down to every individual and the choices they make. We don’t have a vaccine for COVID-19, but we know how to beat the virus by staying home, washing your hands, wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and avoiding crowds. Let’s be an example once again for the rest of the country by listening to the public health experts and bringing our numbers of COVID-19 cases down,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

On Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 10:00 a.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. On Tuesday, the Nez-Lizer team, World Central Kitchen, and CORE Foundation will distribute food and care packages in the following communities:

11:00 a.m. – Nenahnezad Chapter

12:00 p.m. – Upper Fruitland Chapter

1:00 p.m. – Tse Da Kaan Chapter

2:00 p.m. – San Juan Chapter

“We understand that people all over the country are being challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic — emotionally, physically, mentally, financially, and in other ways, but we have to remember that our ancestors overcame so many adversities and hardships so that we could be here today. Please pray and please make good choices for yourselves and your family members,” 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: 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/2630211903911003