Navajo Nation Keeps Stay-Home Order, Lifts Weekend Lockdowns

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) – The Navajo Nation has announced it is extending its stay-at-home order with a revised nightly curfew to limit the spread of COVID-19 and will lift weekend lockdowns after this weekend to allow more vaccination events.

Tribal officials announced late Thursday that the actions in the tribe’s latest public health emergency order will take effect Monday and run through at least Feb. 15. Officials said the daily curfew will run daily from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Navajo Nation’s stay-at-home order extended, daily curfew implemented, and weekend lockdowns lifted to allow more vaccination events on weekends

Link to latest public health order: https://t.co/uvZTiP0AGs pic.twitter.com/SbbAaO8ooy

— Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (@NNPrezNez) January 22, 2021

“By lifting the 57-hour weekend lockdown, our health care facilities on the Navajo Nation will be able to administer more COVID-19 vaccines on the weekends. Our goal is to vaccinate as many of our people as possible and this helps with that effort,” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said.

The stay-at-home order is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Essential businesses will now be open on weekends in accordance with the latest public health order. This allows our people to shop for essential items on weekends which helps many working families that often do not have time to shop during the weekdays,” Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer said. “Progress is being made in this fight against COVID-19. We have to remain strong, pray, and continue to listen to our public health experts.”

The tribe on Friday reported 14 additional deaths and 143 new known infections. That brings the total to 26,955 cases and 954 known deaths on the reservation.

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KSL-TV’s Cary J. Schwanitz contributed to this report.