The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2020

157 new cases, 11,039 recoveries, and one more death related to COVID-19

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Sunday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 157 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and one more death. The total number of deaths is now 746 as of Sunday. Reports indicate that 11,039 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 191,564 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 21,019 including 52 delayed reported cases.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 4,012
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 2,223
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 2,206
• Gallup Service Unit: 3,486
• Kayenta Service Unit: 2,023
• Shiprock Service Unit: 3,519
• Tuba City Service Unit: 2,217
• Winslow Service Unit: 1,311

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

On Sunday, the state of Arizona reported 5,366 new cases, Utah reported 1,994, and New Mexico reported 1,077 new cases. The Navajo Nation’s 57-hour weekend lockdown remains in effect until Monday, Dec. 21 at 5:00 a.m. (MST). All businesses will be closed during the weekend lockdown and all residents are required to remain home with the exception of essential workers and cases of emergencies. 

“The numbers of new cases of COVID-19 are still very high for the states of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. The safest place to be is at home here on the Navajo Nation. We are once again urging everyone to celebrate the upcoming Christmas holiday safely with only those individuals that live under the same roof as you. We saw a spike in new COVID-19 cases following Thanksgiving, so we want to avoid that happening again. Please be safe, stay home, avoid gatherings, wear a mask, practice social distancing, and wash your hands often,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

Navajo Area IHS has completed the distribution of the first shipment of Pfizer vaccines for COVID-19, which were administered to frontline health care workers and those living in long term assisted living facilities. The Utah Navajo Health System stated that they expect to receive the Pfizer vaccine on Monday. UNHS opted to work with the state of Utah for distribution of vaccines.

On Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 10:00 a.m. (MST), the Nez-Lizer Administration will host an online town hall on the Nez-Lizer Facebook page to provide additional updates. 

“Our health care workers and first responders never stop fighting for us, so let’s keep fighting for them each and every day. We have to remain focused on protecting ourselves and one another until the vaccine is available for the general public. Keep praying and keep fighting the 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: 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/2682485392016987