The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2021

40 new cases, 38,803 recoveries, and three more deaths related to COVID-19

WINDOW ROCK, Arizona – On Saturday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 40 new COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation and three more deaths. The total number of deaths is now 1,576. The report indicates that 38,803 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 406,860 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The overall total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 40,765, including 10 delayed reported cases.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 7,233
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 3,885
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 4,718
• Gallup Service Unit: 6,684
• Kayenta Service Unit: 3,487
• Shiprock Service Unit: 7,294
• Tuba City Service Unit: 5,035
• Winslow Service Unit: 2,407

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

On Saturday, the state of Arizona reported 3,467 new cases. The states of Utah and New Mexico will report weekend case numbers on Monday.  

“The data across the country shows that the vast majority of people getting severely sick and losing their lives to COVID-19 are those who are unvaccinated. Here on the Navajo Nation, 85-percent of our elders are fully vaccinated. Once again, our elders are leading the way and setting a great example for all of us. Please get fully vaccinated, get your booster shot, and continue to take precautions,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

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.

“We want everyone to have a fun, enjoyable, and safe holiday season and that means taking precautions that help to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Omicron variant continues to spread in the country, so we have to be careful and continue to listen to our health care experts. Please be safe and keep praying,” 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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