The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2021

30 new cases, 32,906 recoveries, and no recent deaths related to COVID-19, 31 communities identified with uncontrolled spread

WINDOW ROCK, Arizona – On Monday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 30 new COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. The total number of deaths remains 1,464. The report indicates that 32,906 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 350,743 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The overall total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 34,914, including six delayed reported cases. 

Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 6,286
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 3,401
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 4,100
• Gallup Service Unit: 5,641
• Kayenta Service Unit: 3,043
• Shiprock Service Unit: 5,971
• Tuba City Service Unit: 4,292
• Winslow Service Unit: 2,161

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

On Monday, the state of Arizona will report new cases on Tuesday due to a system update. Utah reported 3,036 cases and New Mexico reported 1,895 new cases, which also includes weekend case numbers. Based on cases from Oct. 1 to Oct. 14, 2021, the NavajoDepartment of Health issued a Health Advisory Notice for the following 31 communities due to uncontrolled spread of COVID-19:

“We have to do better, collectively and individually, when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19. We see somewhat of a plateau in new infections, but we should be in a much better state than we are. Our health care experts have provided us the knowledge and guidance to keep ourselves safe and healthy, but it is ultimately the individual choices that our people make each day that determines the outcome. When people choose to have in-person family gatherings with no masks required, they are putting themselves at much greater risk of COVID-19. Please remain diligent, take precautions, and get vaccinated. The safest place to be is at home here on the Navajo Nation,” 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.

“The advice from our health care workers may seem repetitive, but it is their guidance that is helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. We are in this fight together against this virus, so everything that we do each day impacts others. Please continue to be very cautious, especially in public and please continue to pray for our 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. 

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