PRESS RELEASE – Navajo Nation: Covid-19 positive cases increase
by 368, weekend curfews continue until December 28
ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation’s update to coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic situation report from the Health Command Operations Center (HCOC) for December 10, 2020 included data for testing, results, recoveries and mortalities related to Covid-19 in and around the Navajo Nation.
As of Dec. 10, the Health Command Operation Center reported that the Navajo Nation added 347 confirmed positive Covid-19 cases, totaling 18,943. Additionally, six mortalities related to Covid-19 were added to an overall total of 699 reported since March. Positive cases have increased in border towns by 105 in one day. 64 recoveries were reported for a total of 10,256 recovered Navajo people along with 146,839 negative tests.
“We are facing some dire realities seeing yet another spike in cases,” said Speaker Seth Damon. “That one visit to your relatives or friends is not worth the pain and hardship during these times. The Council is hard at work ensuring programs perform throughout the pandemic, and we are mindful of the stresses and demands created in constantly protecting against the spread of the virus. We had some hopeful news today that a vaccine was recommended to the FDA for distribution, but that was met with news of a jump in the number of positive cases. Please, stay home and follow the CDC’s guidelines during this holiday season because these vaccines will not be widely available overnight. Do not travel and do not gather together.”
Today, the Council began a two-day Naabik’íyáti’ Committee special meeting with reports from the Navajo Nation Office of the Controller on special duty pay for first responders and essential personnel during the Navajo Nation. Controller Pearling Kirk reported a grand total of $75,469,139 has been paid out of various funding sources relating to the Covid-19 response on the Navajo Nation. Delegates continued to pursue solutions for community-based and Navajo Nation front-line workers that were not included in claims due to a variety of administrative issues in the Executive Branch.
The second day of the special meeting will continue Friday with discussion and action on local, state and federal legislative priorities. The proceedings can be viewed live on the Council’s Youtube, Vimeo and Facebook pages and are available as archived videos at the meeting’s conclusion.
More Data
Navajo Nation cases by Service Unit:
Chinle Service Unit: 3709 (+46)
Gallup Service Unit: 3,128 (+59)
Shiprock Service Unit: 3057 (+83)
Crownpoint Service Unit: 2040 (+34)
Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 2020 (+48)
Kayenta Service Unit: 1897 (+10)
Tuba City Service Unit: 1916 (+34)
Winslow Service Unit: 1155 (+54)
Border Towns: 5,197 (+105)
In response to the rising number of cases, the HCOC announced another three week shelter-in-place and 57-hour weekend lockdowns effective from December 7,2020 to December 28,2020.
The NDOH and the Navajo Epidemiology Center provided the updated Covid-19 figures in coordination with tribally-controlled 638 healthcare facilities and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service. More information, including Covid-19 testing locations, can be found on the Navajo Nation’s Covid-19 website at: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19.
The HCOC General Hotline can be reached at (928) 871-7014. Inquiries and requests may be sent to NNHCOCPlans@navajo-nsn.gov. The HCOC hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm, Saturday from 8am to 12pm and Sunday on standby status.
