The Navajo Nation
Office of the President and Vice President
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2020
70 new cases, 7,429 recoveries, and no recent deaths related to COVID-19 as 56-hour weekend lockdown approaches
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 70 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. The total number of deaths remains 574 as previously reported on Monday. Reports indicate that 7,429 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 119,359 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 11,101, which includes one delayed reported case.
Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:
- Chinle Service Unit: 2,506
- Crownpoint Service Unit: 1,047
- Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 1,157
- Gallup Service Unit: 1,727
- Kayenta Service Unit: 1,373
- Shiprock Service Unit: 1,722
- Tuba City Service Unit: 1,035
- Winslow Service Unit: 527
* Eight residences with COVID-19 positive cases are not specific enough to place them accurately in a Service Unit.
The Navajo Department of Health issued Public Health Emergency Order No. 2020-026 on Thursday, to implement 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), and another from Oct. 30 until Nov. 2. The daily curfew remains in effect from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on weekdays.
On Thursday, the state of New Mexico reported a record-high of 669 new cases of COVID-19, the state of Arizona reported 994 new cases, and Utah reported 1,543.
“We have to take responsibility as citizens of the Navajo Nation, and we have to hold each other accountable. We cannot continue traveling off the Navajo Nation to hotspots and bringing the coronavirus back home to our communities. If people continue to be complacent, we will soon have a widespread health care crisis on the Navajo Nation. We have to do better and we have to stop having family gatherings and adhere to the guidelines put forth by the public health experts. Stay home, wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance, and avoid large gatherings,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.
On Thursday, the Nez-Lizer team, World Central Kitchen, and CORE Foundation will distributed food and care packages to 610 families in the communities of Coyote Canyon, Bahastl’a’a’, Mexican Springs, and Tohatchi in New Mexico. The Nez-Lizer Administration will distribute food and care packages on Friday, Oct. 23 at Oljato Chapter at 11:00 a.m., Chinle Chapter at 1:30 p.m., and Nazlini Chapter at 3:00 p.m.
“Our Navajo people are strong and resilient, but we are in the midst of a challenging pandemic. We have to make better decisions for our loved ones, especially those who are elderly and those who have underlying health conditions. Please be safe and continue to pray for protection from COVID-19 and for our entire Nation,” 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.