The Navajo Nation extended its declaration of a state of emergency and also extended the closure of Navajo Nation government offices and related entities until May 17 to help slow the spread of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation April 22. The Navajo Police Department issued 179 citations during the second 57-hour weekend curfew, which ran from April 17 - 20. One-hundred and eight of those citations reflected curfew violation citations. The other 71 were for traffic violations. The numbers reflect preliminary totals provided by six out of seven police districts. Tuba City, Ariz. and Crownpoint, N.M. received the largest number. Tuba City got 48 citations while Crownpoint got 31. The majority of people complied with the curfew, however the Navajo police report a noticeable increase in traffic throughout the week during non-curfew hours. The next weekend curfew runs from 8 pm on April 24 - 5 am on April 27. Residents on the Navajo Nation are being told to stay home and not travel anywhere. Navajo Police will strictly enforce the curfew order by issuing citations to violators that may include a fine up to $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail. The Navajo Department of Health and Navajo Area Indian Health Service, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center, said there are 1,282 cases on the Navajo Nation as of April 22, with another 76 cases being confirmed that day. The 1,282 cases include the following counties: Navajo County, Ariz.: 342 Apache County, Ariz.: 260 Coconino County, Ariz.: 222 McKinley County, N.M.: 270 San Juan County, N.M.: 128 Cibola County, N.M.: 14 San Juan County, Utah: 16 Socorro County, N.M.: 17 Sandoval County, N.M.: 13 There are 49 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 as of April 22. The daily curfew implemented on March 30 remains in effect from 8 pm to 5 am. “Now is the time for us as Diné people to be united against COVID-19, by adhering to the Navajo Nation’s shelter-in-place order and the daily and weekend curfews. Some states are beginning to consider loosening restrictions, but not the Navajo Nation. We are relying on the health care experts and the facts as we continue the fight against COVID-19,” President Jonathan Nez said. Both Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer urged residents to continue with shelter-in-place orders to protect themselves and others. “To our Navajo people, please remain diligent in practicing social distancing and by remaining home as much as possible. Our frontline warriors are out there fighting to protect and heal our people, so let’s stay home for them. We have police officers who are recovering from the virus, so please keep them in your prayers. We will get through this together,” Lizer stated. TIMELINE OF THE VIRUS ON THE NAVAJO NATION April 16: The Navajo Epidemiology Center announces another 121 cases to bring the total to 1,042. Three additional deaths brings the total up to 41. The Health Command Operations Center in cooperation with Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, Vice President Lizer, and the Navajo Nation Attorney General Doreen McPaul announced the Official Navajo Nation COVID-19 Donation Fund. Two new additional weekend curfews are announced. April 17: As the second weekend curfew begins, another 85 cases are announced to bring the total to 1,127. The death tally also rises to 44 after three new deaths are announced. The Navajo Department of Health issues Public Health Emergency 2020-007, which requires all individuals on the reservation to wear a protective face mask in public. The Public Health Emergency Order defines a mask as a covering designed to filter one’s breathing through both the nose and mouth. A mask must snugly cover the face around the nose and mouth to prevent the wearer from breathing unfiltered air. The mask may be a commercially-made face mask, or a homemade cloth face covering. April 18: The case total rises to 1,197 after another 70 cases are announced. The first 57-hour weekend curfew goes into effect from 8 pm until 5 am on April 13. April 20: After no announcements on April 19, the two-day case total is announced. Another 124 cases brings the total to 1,321 while another death over the weekend brings the total to 45. The Office of the President and Vice President also announced the reservation will be receiving rapid testing kits, which will allow for results in minutes as opposed to days. April 21: The Navajo Epidemiology Center announces they will start reporting only cases on the reservation and no cases within border towns. The case total is changed to 1,206 after this notion is implemented while the death count rises to 48. For more information on the Navajo Nation efforts in fighting COVID-19, visit http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19.
