The Navajo Nation

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2020

90 new cases, 7,533 recoveries, and three more deaths related to COVID-19 as 56-hour weekend lockdown is set to begin

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Friday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 90 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and three more deaths. The total number of deaths is now 578 as of Friday. Reports indicate that 7,533 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 124,712 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 11,694, including three delayed reported cases.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 2,608
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 1,175
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 1,221
• Gallup Service Unit: 1,784
• Kayenta Service Unit: 1,401
• Shiprock Service Unit: 1,792
• Tuba City Service Unit: 1,117
• Winslow Service Unit: 587

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

The Navajo Nation’s 56-hour weekend lockdown begins on Friday, Oct. 30 at 9:00 p.m. (MDT) until Monday, Nov. 2 at 5:00 a.m. (MDT). On Friday, the state of New Mexico reported 1,010 new cases of COVID-19, the state of Arizona reported 1,565 new cases, and Utah reported 2,292.

“The Navajo Police Department will hold road checkpoints to enforce the 56-hour weekend lockdown on the Navajo Nation throughout the weekend. We strongly urge all Navajo Nation residents to remain home, especially during Halloween. This is a very troubling trend in terms of new cases and community spread. Our public health experts can continue issuing warnings and public health orders, but if our citizens don’t adhere to their advice then we’re going to be faced with a major public health crisis very soon. Be safe, stay home, wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands often, and avoid large crowds,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

Public health officials strongly advise against in-person gatherings and activities, such as door-to-door trick-or-treating, in-person costume contests, large dinner parties with non-household members, haunted houses, and fall carnivals. Currently public health emergency orders prohibit in-person gatherings of five or more.

On Friday, the Nez-Lizer team, World Central Kitchen, Broken Arrow Bible Church, Navajo Division of Transportation, and Navajo-Hopi Land Commission Office distributed food and food packages to 443 families in Vanderwagon and nearby communities and Rock Springs in New Mexico, to help them stay home and stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Be strong and keep fighting this pandemic together. We are facing a very challenging time right now, but we have the power to lift ourselves up by working together. Please protect your children and elders from COVID-19 and please continue to pray for our 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.

https://www.facebook.com/NezLizer2018/posts/2640312992900894