WINDOW ROCK - On March 24, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer were informed of 10 additional positive COVID-19 tests by the Navajo Department of Health and Navajo Area IHS, bringing the overall total to 69 cases for Navajo people. This includes 43 cases in Navajo County, Ariz., eight in Apache County, Ariz., six in Coconino County, Ariz., four in McKinley County, and seven in San Juan County, N.M. and one in Cibola County, N. M.

A Public Health Emergency “Stay at Home Order” remains in effect, requiring all residents of the Navajo Nation to stay home and self-isolated. All non-essential businesses are ordered to close to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

“To protect ourselves, our families, and communities, we need to stay home to beat the virus. Every person must remain home unless you need food, medicine, or other essential items, but beyond that, we shouldn’t have anyone traveling or going out into the public. If you need essential items, send only one person and use every precaution available, such as taking sanitizing wipes or hand sanitizers into stores,” Nez said.

“Stay home, stay safe, save lives! As leaders, we continue to pray for the individuals and families affected by the virus, and we pray for a speedy recovery,” Lizer said.

Nez and Lizer spent March 24 continuing to spread the word on the ground as they distributed information to the public and urged those on the road to return home safely, and only travel if necessary for food, medicine, or other essential items.

“We are not letting down. We are stepping up our efforts to fight for the resources that our Navajo people, first responders, and many others need to respond and recover from this pandemic. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but we will overcome like our ancestors did,” Nez added.

The Navajo Department of Emergency Management, in coordination with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Office, successfully issued an Emergency Alert through text message March 23 urging all Navajo residents to stay home to prevent the spread of the virus. The system will also be used to issue AMBER Alerts, Silver Alerts, Weather Alerts, and Missing Endangered Person Alerts. Supplies are also arriving from the Strategic National Stockpile, and being delivered to health care centers on the Navajo Nation.

All residents of the Navajo Nation can register to receive alerts from the Navajo Department of Emergency Management by texting “NavajoNation” to 888777or registering online at nnalert.com

The Navajo Police Department is also on the ground informing communities using public address systems from police units. If Chilchinbeto residents have questions or need assistance, call (928) 871-6271. To contact the main Navajo Health Command Operations Center, call (928) 871-7014.

Staff Reports