Navajo Nation Lists 68 Communities With Uncontrolled Spread of COVID-19
Dec 28, 2020, 4:03 PM
(KSL TV)
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Department of Health identified 68 communities with the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 from December 11 to December 24.
“This week, we see a very slight reduction in the number of communities with uncontrolled spread of COVID-19, but that does not mean that we let up our guard,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. “We won’t know the impact of the Christmas holiday for several more days, so we don’t know the full extent of exposure and new infections. Keep your guard up and continue to follow the recommendations of our public health experts.”
On Sunday the Navajo Nation reported 122 new cases and 10 additional deaths.
The disease has now killed 777 people on the reservation.
Navajo Department of Health identifies 68 communities with uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/yrgxXpMA7A
— Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (@NNPrezNez) December 28, 2020
Nez said the Navajo Department of Health extended a stay-at-home lockdown order on Monday. The order requires everyone to stay home 24-hours a day, seven days a week. A news release said the order does not apply to essential workers and those in emergency situations, as well as people picking up food, medication, and supplies. People who must tend to livestock, exercise within the immediate vicinity of their home, or who are gathering and hauling wood with a permit are allowed to leave their homes.
The news release said the order also extended 57-hour long weekend lockdowns through January 11. Essential businesses, which include gas stations, grocery stores, laundromats, restaurants that provide drive-thru and curbside services, and hay operators can open from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. on weekdays only.
“Our health care workers have never given up on fighting for us, so let’s do our very best to help them by staying home more often. The coronavirus only moves when we move, so let’s stay home as much as possible to help isolate COVID-19,” said Vice President Myron Lizer.