The Navajo Nation 

Office of the President and Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2020

Navajo Nation extends government closure as 2,029 COVID-19 recoveries, 128 new cases, and seven more deaths are reported

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 128 new cases of COVID-19 for the Navajo Nation and seven more deaths. The total number of deaths has reached 259 as of Wednesday. Preliminary reports from 10 health care facilities indicate that approximately 2,029 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, with more reports still pending. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation has reached 5,661.

Navajo Nation cases by Service Unit:

• Chinle Service Unit: 1,458
• Crownpoint Service Unit: 546
• Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 301
• Gallup Service Unit: 949
• Kayenta Service Unit: 855
• Shiprock Service Unit: 936
• Tuba City Service Unit: 471
• Winslow Service Unit: 114

*31 residences are not specific enough to place them accurately in a Service Unit

On Wednesday, President Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer signed an executive order to extend the closure of Navajo Nation government offices and entities to July 5, 2020. They also announced that another Public Health Emergency Order will be issued to extend the duration of the daily curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and to pause the 57-hour weekend lockdowns for the Navajo Nation. 

 “As we reflected on the COVID-19 data and the recommendations from health care professionals, we have decided to pause the 57-hour weekend lockdowns on the Navajo Nation; however, the seven-day curfews are still active and enforced. The end of the 57-hour lockdown does not mean that we let our guards down because the virus is still within our communities. We must continue to comply with all public health orders to slow and stop the coronavirus spread. This is not the time to ignore and forget all the preventative measures we have been practicing, such as washing your hands, staying six feet away from others, cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, and wearing your face masks,” said President Nez. 

During the Office of the President and Vice President townhall meeting, President also shared how the Nation will continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and address the needed relief for Navajo families, workers, and businesses, which is outlined in the comprehensive expenditure plan for the $600 million received from the federal CARES Act. 

“The $600 million should be directed to help the Navajo people by providing for improved health care, water, power, and telecommunications infrastructure, agriculture, small businesses and enterprises, elderly care needs, first responders, educational needs, and scholarships for students entering the healthcare and public safety fields. The plan further outlines the immediate needs to keep our Navajo families, communities, and economy safe and secured,” added President Nez. 

The comprehensive expenditure plan outlines the immediate expenditure of $50.5 million for PPEs, care packages for COVID-19 families, hazard pay for Navajo Nation essential employees, deep sanitation of Navajo government offices, reconfiguration of offices, telework-capable computer systems for employees, and assistance to P.L. 93-638 healthcare facilities. Other expenditures include $300 million for water and agriculture projects, $100 million for powerline and solar infrastructure, $50 million for broadband/telecommunication, $50 for healthcare and public safety scholarships, $40 million for Navajo businesses, and $10 million for housing needs on the Navajo Nation. 

“The Navajo people are suffering from the impact of COVID-19. As leaders, we can alleviate the pain and the challenges that the virus has created among our relatives and communities. Together, with the input of the three-branch government leaders, local governments, and most importantly, our citizens, we can strengthen the plan that will be in the Nation’s best interest,” said Vice President Lizer. 

President Nez and Vice President also request Navajo citizens and Navajo Nation employees to support Legislation No. 0116-20, sponsored by Council Delegate Edmund Yazzie and co-sponsors, to immediately address the safety of employees by providing adequate personal protection equipment, deep sanitation of government offices, and hazard pay for essential employees. 

“Support for the legislation can help Navajo Nation employees to provide direct services to our citizens, including elders and individuals with underlying health conditions. It supports the first stage of reopening the Navajo Nation, which would be implemented in phases supported by healthcare professional analysis and expertise. Most of all, we need to ensure that our employees feel safe to return back to work,” said President Nez. 

To  submit supporting comments for Legislation No. 0116-20 e-mail: comments@navajo-nsn.gov and navajonationpubliccomments@gmail.com. 

https://www.facebook.com/NezLizer2018/posts/2514508628814665