6:21 pm PRESS RELEASE Navajo Nation Health Command Operations Center confirms 83 new cases of COVID-19, total now to 921

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Nation Health Command Operations Center (HCOC) has now confirmed an overall total of 921 cases of Dikos Ntsaaígíí-19 (COVID-19) as of Wednesday, Apr. 15. The cases include 823 cases located on the Navajo Nation and 98 cases located in border towns. A total of 4,741 tests have been performed, of which 3,239 have returned negative results.

COVID-19 Laboratory Confirmed Deaths: 38
Navajo County (Arizona): 270
Apache County (Arizona): 119
Coconino County (Arizona): 183
McKinley County (New Mexico): 136
San Juan County (New Mexico): 85
Cibola County (New Mexico): 9
San Juan County (Utah): 11
Socorro (NM): 6
Sandoval (NM): 4
Source: Navajo Epidemiology Center

The Navajo Epidemiology Center also reported five additional deaths, bringing COVID-19 related fatalities to 38. The center is continuing to refine its case reporting on Navajo residents of the Navajo Nation and border towns.

The Navajo Nation Health Command Operations Center continues to work with all agencies, counties, local corresponding emergency entities and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service to acquire the resources to aid the Navajo Nation’s COVID-19 emergency response efforts.

“We truly thank many of those who are abiding by the stay-at-home order and the daily curfew, but it’s very disheartening to receive reports of many people going out into the public today and traveling to border towns – most due to the federal stimulus funds that our people are beginning to receive. We are close to finalizing another public health order to implement 57-hour curfew for the remaining weekends for the month of April,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

During a live Facebook update on Wednesday, President Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer urged members of the Navajo Nation to be prudent with their stimulus funds and to save as much as possible due to the uncertainties of the ongoing pandemic.

“We don’t all have to rush out and go shopping because we have some extra funds. Let’s be smart and plan financially for our families and let’s continue to use extreme caution so we don’t spread the virus especially among our elders. 38 people is a scary number – all of our people need to do a better job and stop traveling unless it’s absolutely necessary,” said Vice President Lizer.

The Navajo Nation’s daily curfew remains in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and Navajo Police continue to issue citations for curfew violators. President Nez and Vice President Lizer will host another online Town Hall to share COVID-19 updates beginning at 10:00 a.m. (MDT) on Thursday on the Nez-Lizer Facebook page.

The HCOC advises all citizens of the Navajo Nation to abide by Navajo Nation Public Health Orders limiting public gatherings and establishing a daily curfew from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM. The Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety will continue ongoing patrols to enforce the Navajo Nation’s public health measures.

The HCOC remains open to coordinate the Nation’s COVID-19 response. For information, visit https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19 or call the HCOC Hotline at (928) 871-7014.