The Navajo Nation
Office of the President and Vice President
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2021
Navajo Nation’s stay-at-home order extended, daily curfew implemented, and weekend lockdowns lifted to allow more vaccination events on weekends
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Based on data and recommendations from public health experts, the Navajo Department of Health issued Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-002, which will go into effect on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 through at least Feb. 15, 2021 with the following provisions:
- Extends the Stay-At-Home Lockdown which requires all residents to remain at home 24-hours, seven days a week, with the exceptions of essential workers that must report to work, emergency situations, to obtain essential food, medication, and supplies, tend to livestock, outdoor exercising within the immediate vicinity of your home, wood gathering and hauling with a permit.
- Implements a daily curfew from 9:00 p.m. (MST) until 5:00 a.m. (MST) seven days a week.
- Essential businesses may operate between the hours of 7:00 a.m. (MST) and 8:00 p.m. (MST) daily, including gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores, hardware stores, laundromats, restaurants, food establishments, banks and similar financial institutions, and hay vendors, provided they comply with provisions outline in the order to help protect employees and the public from COVID-19.
- Refrain from gathering with individuals from outside your immediate household and requiring all residents to wear a mask in public, avoid public gatherings, maintain social (physical) distancing, remain in your vehicle for curb-side and drive-through services.
- Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-002 is available online at: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer also issued Executive Order No. 003-2021, extending the limitation of Navajo Nation government services through Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, due to the high rate of COVID-19 cases on the Navajo Nation. The Executive Order is available online at: https://www.opvp.navajo-nsn.gov/From-the-Office/Executive-Orders. The Executive Order also requires Divisions, Departments, programs, offices, non-governance certified Chapters, Enterprises, and Navajo casinos to have a Recovery Plan/Workplace Safety Plan, which includes a plan to provide awareness of COVID-19 vaccination opportunities, in anticipation of bringing employees back to work on Feb. 8, 2021.
“By lifting the 57-hour weekend lockdown, our health care facilities on the Navajo Nation will be able to administer more COVID-19 vaccines on the weekends. Our goal is to vaccinate as many of our people as possible and this helps with that effort. Essential businesses will have limited operating hours, including weekends, which will allow residents to purchase essential items as well. The stay-at-home order remains in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week with the exception of essential workers, cases of emergencies, and to obtain essential items such as food, water, and medication. Navajo Area IHS and tribal health facilities will continue the vaccine drives and it’s very important that everyone continues to wear masks and take all precautions even after you receive the vaccines. We are in this fight together against COVID-19, so let’s continue to keep our guard up,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.
Public health experts continue to caution against the new COVID-19 variant, which is reported to be much more contagious than the current strain of the virus. The new variant has been reported in several states including Colorado, New Mexico, and California.
“Essential businesses will now be open on weekends, in accordance with the latest public health order. This allows our people to shop for essential items on weekends, which helps many working families that often do not have time to shop during the weekdays. Progress is being made in this fight against COVID-19. We have to remain strong, pray, and continue to listen to our public health experts. Please adhere to the new provisions in the latest public health emergency order to protect our people and save lives. Be strong and be safe,” 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.