The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2021

6 new cases, 16,276 recoveries, and no recent deaths related to COVID-19 as Navajo Area IHS reports over 176,000 vaccine doses administered so far 

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Monday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported six new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. The total number of deaths remains 1,218 as previously reported on Saturday. Reports indicate that 16,276 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 249,493 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 29,954. 

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 5,511
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 2,867
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 3,567
• Gallup Service Unit: 4,732
• Kayenta Service Unit: 2,644
• Shiprock Service Unit: 5,022
• Tuba City Service Unit: 3,634
• Winslow Service Unit: 1,959

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

On Monday, the state of Arizona reported 638 new cases, Utah reported 221, and New Mexico reported 185 new cases. The Navajo Area Indian Health Service reported that 203,220 total vaccine doses have been received, 176,141 administered, which represents nearly 87-percent so far. 69,224 individuals have received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. 

On Monday, the Navajo Nation transitioned from “red status” to “orange status” in accordance with gating measures and indicators that took into account several factors including the declining number of COVID-19 cases, testing availability, hospital capacity and bed usage, and contact tracing. The Navajo Nation’s daily curfew remains in effect from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. (MDT) seven days a week. The latest public health emergency orders are available online at: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19.

“Our transition to ‘orange status’ is not a full reopening. We still have restrictions on the number of people allowed inside business establishments at one time, indoor restaurant dining is still prohibited, and we also have very strict guidelines in place for businesses to follow to help keep customers safe. Our recent data shows a steady and consistent downward trend in new infections, hospital visits and hospital bed usage remain much lower than what we saw in December and January, and we are seeing many of our people getting vaccinated at a higher rate than states. We have to stay the course and not let up. Across the country, there is great concern for the COVID-19 variants and increased travel. As we have said many times before, the safest place to be is at home here on the Navajo Nation,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

On Monday, the Navajo Department of Health identified two communities, Baca Prewitt and Coyote Canyon, in the latest Health Advisory Notice with “uncontrolled spread” of COVID-19 from Feb. 26, 2021 to March 11, 2021.

“Prior to the vaccines, our masks were the primary defense against COVID-19, but now we have the vaccines to help us in this battle against the virus. We are now seeing vast improvements, but as we are now seeing in regions of Europe, the virus has the ability to surge very quickly. We are very concerned about the variants and that’s why we continue to urge our Navajo people to continue taking all precautions. Keep fighting this virus together and keep praying for our people,” 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. 

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