The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 27, 2020

122 new cases, 11,402 recoveries, and 10 more deaths related to COVID-19 

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Sunday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 122 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and 10 more deaths. The total number of deaths is now 777 as of Sunday. Reports indicate that 11,402 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 197,876 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 22,277.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 4,163
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 2,303
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 2,333
• Gallup Service Unit: 3,630
• Kayenta Service Unit: 2,150
• Shiprock Service Unit: 3,838
• Tuba City Service Unit: 2,423
• Winslow Service Unit: 1,410

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

On Sunday, the state of Arizona reported 1,296 new cases, Utah reported 796, and New Mexico reported 747 new cases.  

“We are in a dire situation across the entire country, but the measures that we have implemented are working. Compared to other areas in the country that do not have measures in place, we are doing better, but we still have to keep fighting COVID-19 together. We understand that families want to gather during the holidays, but in order to protect our health and our loved ones we have to be very cautious. Please do not hold large in-person gatherings. The risks are far too high and the consequences could risk your life or the lives of others. Please stay home, wear a mask, practice social distancing, avoid crowds, and wash your hands with soap and warm water often,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

The Navajo Department of Health issued Public Health Emergency Order No. 2020-032 on Thursday, which goes into effect on Monday, Dec. 28, 2020 through Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 with the following provisions:

• Extends the Stay-At-Home Lockdown which requires all residents to remain at home 24-hours, seven days a week, with the exceptions of essential workers that must report to work, emergency situations, to obtain essential food, medication, and supplies, tend to livestock, outdoor exercising within the immediate vicinity of your home, wood gathering and hauling with a permit.
• Re-implements full 57-hour weekend lockdowns for two additional weekends that include: 8:00 P.M. MST through 5:00 A.M. MST on Jan. 1, 2021 through Jan. 4, 2021, and for the same hours on Jan. 8, 2021 through Jan. 11, 2021.
• Essential businesses including gas stations, grocery stores, laundromats, restaurants and food establishments that provide drive-thru and curbside services, and hay vendors can operate from 7:00 a.m. (MST) to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday only.
• Refrain from gathering with individuals from outside your immediate household and requiring all residents to wear a mask in public, avoid public gatherings, maintain social (physical) distancing, remain in your vehicle for curb-side and drive-through services.

President Nez and Vice President Lizer have also extended the limitation of Navajo Nation government services through Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, due to rise in COVID-19 cases. 

“Please do your best to keep yourselves safe, and help keep your children, elders, and those with underlying health conditions safe and healthy as well. We are in this fight together, so please remember everyone including our health care workers in your prayers as they fight for us each day,” 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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