The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2021

39 new cases, 30,078 recoveries, and no recent deaths related to COVID-19

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Thursday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 39 new COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. The total number of deaths remains 1,386. The report indicates that 30,078 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 298,185 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The overall total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 31,754.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 5,779
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 3,047
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 3,761
• Gallup Service Unit: 5,046
• Kayenta Service Unit: 2,825
• Shiprock Service Unit: 5,389
• Tuba City Service Unit: 3,860
• Winslow Service Unit: 2,028

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

On Thursday, the state of Arizona reported 2,970 new cases. Utah reported 1,242 cases, and New Mexico reported 1,281 new cases. The Navajo Department of Health issued three new Public Health Emergency Orders declaring “Orange Status” for businesses, schools, and revising in-person gathering limits for certain events in response to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases on the Navajo Nation. The new public health emergency orders will go into effect on Monday, August 16, 2021. The Navajo Nation’s mask mandate remains in effect. There is no daily curfew or lockdown in effect. The public health emergency orders are available online at: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. 

“There are increases in cluster cases in certain communities due to in-person social and family gatherings where people don’t wear masks and don’t take proper precautions. Those types of outbreaks are completely preventable, but unfortunately some are letting down their guard in these circumstances. While we are seeing increases in new cases, the major difference between one year ago and now is that we have about 70-percent of our eligible population on the Navajo Nation fully vaccinated, so we do not have a large increase in hospitalizations so far. Please get fully vaccinated as soon as possible and keep wearing masks in public and when you are in close contact with others outside of your household,” 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 health experts have given all of us the guidance and knowledge needed to keep ourselves and others safe. Please remember that your choices and actions have consequences for us all when it comes to the spread of COVID-19. We continue to encourage everyone to follow the safety measures and please continue to wear a mask in public. We are in this together, so let’s continue to support each other and keep praying for our health care workers and all of 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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