The Navajo Nation
Office of the President and Vice President
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2021
55 new cases, 30,940 recoveries, and two more deaths related to COVID-19, public health officials caution public about Labor Day travel
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 55 new COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation and two more deaths. The total number of deaths is now 1,406. The report indicates that 30,940 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 317,896 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The overall total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 32,707, including two delayed reported cases.
Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:
- Chinle Service Unit: 5,983
- Crownpoint Service Unit: 3,139
- Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 3,866
- Gallup Service Unit: 5,215
- Kayenta Service Unit: 2,895
- Shiprock Service Unit: 5,545
- Tuba City Service Unit: 3,975
- Winslow Service Unit: 2,070
* 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 3,470 new cases, Utah reported 1,687, and New Mexico reported 994 new cases. The Navajo Department of Health advises the public to report COVID-19 exposures through their website at: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19 to help compile information and mitigation efforts.
“Travel is becoming a greater concern across the country due to the Delta variant and its higher transmissibility. As we approach the Labor Day weekend, our public health experts urge our Navajo Nation residents to stay local and not to travel to cities or regions that have high rates of COVID-19. Through contact tracing, they are finding that many new infections are caused by individuals who travel off the Navajo Nation, don’t take the proper precautions, and bring the virus home to their loved ones. Another major factor is large social and family gatherings where people let their guard down and often don’t wear a mask around others. Please listen to our health care experts and be very cautious,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.
This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged unvaccinated people to avoid traveling during the Labor Day weekend to lessen the spread of COVID-19. The Navajo Department of Health is also urging residents to stay local and avoid large in-person gatherings.
“Please avoid travel and only do so if it’s necessary. We experienced a slight decrease in the total number of new COVID-19 cases last week. Let’s all work together to keep the numbers down. Travel wisely if you need to. Most importantly, gather safely only among 15 persons or less and please wear masks,” said Navajo Department of Health Executive Director Dr. Jill Jim.
Health care facilities across the Navajo Nation continue to administer COVID-19 vaccines. If you would like to receive one of the COVID-19 vaccines, please contact your health care provider and schedule an appointment.
“If you feel symptoms related to COVID-19, it’s very important that you do your best to isolate yourself and get tested as soon as possible. Please do not go out into public if you are feeling symptoms and please do not send your children to school if they are sick. We are in this together and we have to work together to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Please be safe and keep praying for our frontline workers, those who are dealing with COVID-19, and for all of our Navajo 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.