The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2022

75 new cases, 52,171 recoveries, and two deaths related to COVID-19 over four-day period, 24 communities identified with uncontrolled spread

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 75 new COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation and two deaths over the three-day holiday weekend and Tuesday combined. Below are case numbers including the past three days and Tuesday: 

• May 27-28:                 59 new cases, 1 death
• May 30:                        9 new cases, 0 deaths
• May 31:                        7 new cases, 1 death

The total number of deaths is now 1,788. The report indicates that 52,171 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 531,382 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The overall total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 54,226, including six delayed reported cases.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 10,428
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 5,220
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 5,546
• Gallup Service Unit: 9,052
• Kayenta Service Unit: 5,149
• Shiprock Service Unit: 10,002
• Tuba City Service Unit: 5,935
• Winslow Service Unit: 2,872

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

Based on cases from May 13-26, 2022, the Navajo Department of Health issued a Health Advisory Notice for the following 24 communities due to uncontrolled spread of COVID-19:

“As we’ve experienced in the past, when COVID-19 case numbers increase in border towns and nearby cities, we tend to see an increase here on the Navajo Nation as well. If you travel off the Navajo Nation, our public health experts strongly encourage you to continue taking precautions especially in public places. The best defense against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and get your booster shots if you are eligible to do so. Please be safe, take precautions, and keep pushing back on this virus,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

Health care facilities on 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.

“With graduations and the recent holidays, COVID-19 cases have increased in many parts of the country. We do not want to experience another large surge here on the Navajo Nation, so please be very cautious and remind your loved ones to be safe. Please keep praying for our people, our frontline workers, and everyone who is experiencing symptoms and illness due to COVID-19,” 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.