In a declaration May 12, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer extended the Navajo Nation’s public health state of emergency to include the period from May 18 to June 7 with Executive Order Number 004-20.
That will mean:
All Navajo Nation government offices and enterprises shall remain closed to minimize the spread of the corona virus disease. Only essential employees, as determined by respective division directors or enterprise management, shall report to their respective worksites.
Essential Employees are defined as those workers necessary to maintain basic, direct government or enterprise services, either working in their offices or telecommuting.
Essential Employees shall include those workers from, but not limited to, Navajo Public Safety, Navajo Fire Department, Navajo Emergency Medical Services, department of emergency management, Navajo Division of Natural Resources, Navajo Division of Finance, Navajo Division of Social Services, Navajo Division of Human Services, Navajo Division of Community Development, Department of Diné Education, office of management and budget, department of justice, Navajo enterprises and those determined by the branch chiefs.
Division directors and enterprise management shall arrange daily work schedules that ensure a safe work environment and supply necessary office equipment for telecommuting employees.
All non-essential Navajo Nation government employees, as determined by the division director, affected by this Executive Order, shall be granted administrative leave for the duration of the closure and are expected to refrain from events, gatherings, or other areas where they may contract COVID-19, and to observe and follow all public health emergency orders.
Navajo Nation government office closures may be extended beyond June 7 on the recommendation of the Navajo Health Command Operations Center, the Navajo Department of Emergency Management Operation Center and the Navajo Epidemiology Center.
All Navajo Nation divisions, departments, programs, offices, non-governance certified chapters, enterprises and Navajo casinos shall follow the direction of the public health emergency orders requiring all Navajo citizens to limit their movements, stay at home, leave for essential activities only, and comply with the curfew hours of 8 pm – 5 am, as well as weekend or other curfew hours.
