New COVID-19 Cases, Infection Rate Drop On Navajo Nation

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Navajo Nation public health experts said new COVID-19 cases dropped consistently over the past several weeks and the infection rate dropped below 1.00 in the last seven days.

An infection rate below 1 indicates that every person who has the virus is spreading it to less than one other person, which means cases are declining.

Officials with Navajo Area Indian Health Services said recent data showed a “consistent downward trajectory” in new cases and the infection rate is 0.81 over the last seven days.

“We’ve had 23 consecutive days with less than 50 new COVID-19 cases and 12 consecutive days with less than 25 reported. We continue to rely on the data and the advice of public health experts as we move forward in this pandemic,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. “The data we are receiving lately shows very good progress in the reduction of new cases of COVID-19, a reduction in hospital bed usage, and very high rates of vaccinations across the Navajo Nation.”

12 new cases, 16,202 recoveries, and one more death related to COVID-19 as Navajo Nation sees consistent downward trend in infections and hospitalizations pic.twitter.com/aJQEKVO62I

— Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (@NNPrezNez) March 10, 2021

The Navajo Area Indian Health Services said 52,324 people were vaccinated with first and second doses and 76% of received vaccines have been administered.

Nez and Navajo Vice President Myron Lizer thanked Congress for approving the American Rescue Plan on Wednesday. A news release said the plan included $20 billion in pandemic aid for federally recognized tribes.

“The bill provides significant discretion for the Secretary of the Treasury to determine funding for each tribe,” Nez said. “Our administration recommended that allocations for tribes be based on four factors that include population, land base, number of employees, and direct COVID-19 impacts measured by coronavirus infections, deaths, and other key factors.”

Nez added the plan allocates $6 billion for the Indian Health Service, $1.2 billion for HUD tribal and Native Hawaiian housing programs, and billions more for other programs.

For more information, including helpful prevention tips, and resources to help stop the spread of COVID-19, visit the Navajo Department of Health’s COVID-19 website: http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19.

For COVID-19 related questions and information, call (928) 871-7014.

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How do I prevent it?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.