The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2020

63 new COVID-19 cases and 48 total deaths on the Navajo Nation reported

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Department of Health in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 63 new cases of COVID-19 and a total of 48 deaths for the Navajo Nation as of Tuesday – these numbers do not include cases for border towns as was being previously reported by the Navajo Epidemiology Center. 

As of Tuesday, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation is 1,206, which includes 569 men and 637 women with an average age of 48-years-old. The average age among deaths is 65-years-old. 

The 1,206 confirmed positive cases on the Navajo Nation include the following counties:

• Navajo County, AZ: 328
• Apache County, AZ: 240
• Coconino County, AZ: 214
• McKinley County, NM: 244
• San Juan County, NM: 121
• Cibola County, NM: 14
• San Juan County, UT: 15
• Socorro County, NM: 17
• Sandoval County, NM: 13

During a live online town hall on Tuesday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer thanked the Navajo people for complying with the Navajo Nation-wide shelter-in-place order and urged everyone to continue honoring the order although the Navajo Epidemiology Center stated in a report on Monday that “there does appear to be a flattening of the Navajo Nation epi curve. 

“Now is not the time to let up! To all residents of the Navajo Nation, please continue to stay home as much as possible and to honor the shelter-in-place order that’s in effect. There is still a lot that we don’t know about COVID-19 and we don’t want a second wave to hit our communities. In some states, people are beginning to protest stay-at-home orders, but it is far too early to begin considering fully reopening commerce, government, and establishments. We need more testing, more prevention efforts, and more resources to continue fighting the virus,” said President Nez.

On Monday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer presented the State of the Navajo Nation Address live online and on KTNN 660AM, in which they focused on the many proactive measures that the Navajo Nation has implemented under their leadership. Many of the measures began nearly two months prior to the Navajo Nation’s first confirmed COVID-19 case on March 17. 

On Jan. 26, the Nez-Lizer Administration issued its first public warning of the virus and followed up with seven Public Health Emergency Orders that include a Nation-wide shelter-in-place order, 

“Let’s keep working together and praying together. Through combined efforts and through our faith, the Navajo people will beat the virus eventually, but it’s been a challenging road so far. Our first responders are out working for us, so let’s stay home for them. Our prayers and our appreciation for our health care workers and everyone on the frontlines is never ending. Let’s keep the positive momentum going so we can overcome COVID-19 sooner than later,” said Vice President Lizer.

During the online town hall, President Nez and Vice President Lizer also stated that a new Executive Order is being developed to continue requiring non-essential Navajo Nation employees within the Executive Branch to remain home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

“We are beginning to see good signs, but we are not out of the woods by any means. We still have many people who are sick and in need of care. We are continuing to lose lives and it’s devastating for us all, especially for their loved ones. Let’s continue fighting the virus together by staying home as much as possible and praying for our health care workers and first responders” said Vice President Lizer. 

For more information including reports, helpful prevention tips, and more resources, please visit the Navajo Department of Health’s COVID-19 website at http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. To contact the main Navajo Health Command Operations Center, please call (928) 871-7014.

https://www.facebook.com/NezLizer2018/photos/a.1845200979078770/2480904215508440/?type=3&theater