The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2021

222 new cases, 12,597 recoveries, and one more death related to COVID-19

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 222 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and one more death. The total number of deaths is now 838 as of Wednesday. Reports indicate that 12,597 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 210,697 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 24,247, including 47 delayed reported cases.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 4,516
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 2,464
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 2,560
• Gallup Service Unit: 3,902
• Kayenta Service Unit: 2,287
• Shiprock Service Unit: 4,241
• Tuba City Service Unit: 2,724
• Winslow Service Unit: 1,524

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

On Wednesday, the state of Arizona reported 7,206 new cases, Utah reported 3,769, and New Mexico reported 1,496 new cases. 

“It appears that we are beginning to see the results of the recent holidays in terms of the high number of new COVID-19 cases today. I believe most of our Navajo people adhered to the calls from our public health experts to refrain from holding in-person family gatherings, but unfortunately, we still have some of our people who continue to put themselves and their loved ones at unnecessary risk of the virus. Please continue to listen to our public health experts who are urging everyone to remain at home as much as possible. When we isolate ourselves, we isolate the coronavirus and slow the spread. Stay home, wear a mask, avoid gatherings, practice social distancing, and wash your hands often,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

The Nez-Lizer Administration will be joined by Navajo Area IHS officials and tribal health organizations during a live online town hall on Thursday, Jan. 7 at 10:00 a.m. (MST) to provide additional COVID-19 vaccination updates and information, including the process for administering the vaccine to individuals 65 years and older. 

“We invite all of our Navajo people to tune-in to the town hall to learn more about the vaccine process for the Navajo Nation. We know many people have questions, so please join us. All of us have to remain diligent during this challenging time. Please be safe and make good decisions for yourselves and others in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 among our people and communities,” said Vice President Myron Lizer.

COVID-19 testing schedules are available online at the Navajo Health Command Operations Center website: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19/COVID-19-Testing. 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.