The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2022

93 new cases, 40,199 recoveries, and one death related to COVID-19, new Public Health Emergency Orders issued

WINDOW ROCK, Arizona – On Tuesday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 93 new COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation and one death. The total number of deaths is 1,594. The report indicates that 40,199 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 433,201 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The overall total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 43,541, including 171 delayed reported cases.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 7,993
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 4,082
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 4,926
• Gallup Service Unit: 7,199
• Kayenta Service Unit: 3,777
• Shiprock Service Unit: 7,675
• Tuba City Service Unit: 5,361
• Winslow Service Unit: 2,506

* 22 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 14,160 new cases, the state of Utah reported 9,813 new cases, and New Mexico reported 2,932. The NavajoDepartment of Health reported 19 confirmed Omicron cases on the Navajo Nation on Tuesday, within the following Service Units: Chinle, Kayenta, Sage Memorial Hospital, Tuba City, and Utah Navajo Health System. The Department of Health also issued two public health emergency orders on Tuesday, which are posted online at: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19.

Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-01 reaffirms the Navajo Nation’s “safer at home” order and includes new travel guidelines including, delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated or received a booster vaccine, avoiding all unnecessary travel, staying home if you are sick or in quarantine unless seeking medical attention, using alternative methods such as virtual or telephonic for meetings and appointments, and testing before and after traveling as a precaution. 

Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-02 declares “Red Status” for schools due to the increase in cases due to the Omicron variant. Last year, the Navajo Nation developed the “Navajo Nation COVID-19 Safe Schools Framework” to guide the reopening of schools, which is posted online at: https://www.navajoreopening.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19-Safe-Schools-Framework. Among the provisions includes the following for schools:

1. Implement more aggressive physical distancing measures. 
2. Hybrid (in-person and virtual) or virtual learning shall be offered to the maximum extent possible. 
3. Limit gathering to 15 or fewer persons for non-classroom instruction events such as back-to-school, orientations and other community gatherings. 
4. Limit sport event attendance to 25% of maximum occupancy for indoor and outdoor seating areas, and consistent with HCOC guideline for school sporting events. 
5. Require students, staff and visitors to stay home if they are sick. 
6. Promptly report exposures using the HCOC portal (available at https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19) and notify the nearest local health facility (Indian Health Service or Tribal Health Organization). Exposures will be reported on the HCOC webpage of school exposures to notify the public. 

“As of today, there are 19 confirmed Omicron cases within our communities on the Navajo Nation. We must all take extra precautions and encourage our loved ones to get fully vaccinated and a booster shot if eligible. 12- to 15-year-old individuals are also eligible to receive booster shots as well. The new public health emergency orders issued by the Navajo Department of Health are in response to the rise in COVID-19 cases here on the NavajoNation. If you go into public places, our health officials strongly recommend wearing two masks due to the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant. We have to remain diligent, keep taking precautions, and continue to pray,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

This week, President Nez also issued an Executive Order mandating all employees, regular, part-time, and temporary, to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination booster shot by Jan. 24, 2022. If an employee is not fully vaccinated and does not get a booster shot, the employee is required to submit a negative COVID-19 test result at least once every 14 days. President Nez previously issued an Executive Order requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Sept. 29, 2021 or be subject to mandatory COVID-19 testing. 

“If you have elders in your family, please take the time to inform them and keep them updated about the spread of the Omicron variant and guidance from our health professionals. Our elders and those with underlying health conditions need our support throughout this pandemic. Please take safety measures to keep yourselves and others safe and healthy and keep praying for our people and frontline workers,” 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.