The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2021

24 new cases, 15,892 recoveries, and no recent deaths related to COVID-19 

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Tuesday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 24 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. The total number of deaths remains 1,112 as previously reported on Monday. Reports indicate that 15,892 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 240,250 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 29,308, including one delayed reported case.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 5,407
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 2,834
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 3,440
• Gallup Service Unit: 4,629
• Kayenta Service Unit: 2,607
• Shiprock Service Unit: 4,964
• Tuba City Service Unit: 3,544
• Winslow Service Unit: 1,865

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

On Tuesday, the state of Arizona reported 1,132 new cases, Utah reported 591, and New Mexico reported 308 new cases. The Navajo Nation’s curfew remains in effect from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. (MST) seven days a week.

“The most recent Public Health Emergency Order remains in effect, which includes the daily curfew, the stay-at-home order for all residents, and limited essential business hours from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. We have received more snow here on the Navajo Nation and that is certainly a blessing for all of us, but it also led to some cancellations of vaccine events today. However, our health care facilities are working to reschedule those events as quickly as possible. As I’ve stated before, we’ve dealt with COVID-19 for nearly one year now. So, each of us has some knowledge of the virus and the precautions that we need to take to prevent the spread of the virus in our homes and our communities. With the growing spread of the COVID-19 variants, there’s more reason to continue taking all preventative measures. Continue to stay home as much as possible, wear a mask or two in public, avoid in-person gatherings and crowds, practice social distancing, and wash your hands often,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

Health care facilities across the Navajo Nation continue to administer COVID-19 vaccines during drive-thru events or by appointment. If you would like to receive the vaccine, please contact your health care provider for more information for your Service Unit.

The Nez-Lizer Administration will host an online town hall on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 10:00 a.m. (MST) on the Nez-Lizer Facebook page and YouTube channel to provide more COVID-19 updates.

“Our Navajo people are strong and we’ve shown our strength throughout this pandemic. The light at the end of this dark tunnel gets a little brighter each day as our health care workers continue to administer more and more COVID-19 vaccines. We all have a part to play in bringing down the numbers of new cases each day. Please continue to be safe, take all precautions, and pray for our people and communities,” 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.