The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 9, 2021

12 new cases, 16,202 recoveries, and one more death related to COVID-19 as Navajo Nation sees consistent downward trend in infections and hospitalizations 

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 12 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and one more death. The total number of deaths is now 1,204 as of Tuesday. Reports indicate that 16,202 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 247,314 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 29,887, including two delayed reported cases.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 5,496
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 2,860
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 3,558
• Gallup Service Unit: 4,727
• Kayenta Service Unit: 2,641
• Shiprock Service Unit: 5,017
• Tuba City Service Unit: 3,624
• Winslow Service Unit: 1,946

* 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 563 new cases, Utah reported 560, and New Mexico reported 209 new cases. A report from the Navajo Area Indian Health Service indicates that 187,560 total vaccine doses and nearly 76-percent have been administered as of Monday. 52,324 individuals have received a first and second dose of the vaccines.

During Tuesday’s live online town hall, public health experts presented data that shows that the Navajo Nation has met all gating measures and indicators to transition from the “level red – extensive very high” to “level orange – substantial high” community spread of COVID-19. Recent data also indicates that there is a consistent downward trajectory in new infections of COVID-19, inpatient hospital and ICU bed usage is less than 80-percent, and an infection rate of 0.81 over the last seven days, which indicates that the Nation can expect to see fewer cases.

“We’ve had 23 consecutive days with less than 50 new COVID-19 cases and 12 consecutive days with less than 25 reported. We continue to rely on the data and the advice of public health experts as we move forward in this pandemic. The data we are receiving lately shows very good progress in the reduction of new cases of COVID-19, a reduction in hospital bed usage, and very high rates of vaccinations across the Navajo Nation. Our public health experts continue to caution our people about the spread of COVID-19 variants in regions near and around our Nation. Although we are seeing good progress, we cannot let up and we cannot become complacent. Keep taking all precautions by staying home as much as possible, wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, practicing social distancing, and washing your hands often,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

The Nez-Lizer Administration will host a special online town hall on Wednesday, March 10 at 6:00 p.m. (MST) on the Nez-Lizer Facebook page and YouTube channel, to provide information about the Navajo Nation’s careful transition from “level red” to “level orange” based on the gating measures and indicators.  

“We have to do everything we can to avoid a repeat of what occurred last September when we saw a large surge in new cases soon after we had one day of zero reported new cases of COVID-19. We know how easily and quickly this virus can spread if we let up our guard too soon. Please continue to take all precautions and please continue to pray,” 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/2736597576605768