6:35 pm PRESS RELEASE – Nez-Lizer reaffirms temporary restrictions of roadways for tourists and visitors to the Navajo Nation, commerce and businesses exempted
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — On Friday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer signed into law resolution CMA-16-20, which reaffirms a previous Public Health Order issued on March 20 that outlines temporary restrictions for roadways for tourists and visitors to the Navajo Nation, but does not apply to essential commerce and business services including the delivery of essential items such as groceries, food products, medicine, hardware supplies, household consumer products. It also does not apply to medical providers, public safety, and first responders, who are the essential personnel fighting at the front lines.
The legislation was approved without debate by the 24th Navajo Nation Council on March 20 by a vote of 21-0 as part of a consent agenda.
“With the growing numbers of positive cases of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation, we took the initiative on March 20 to issue a Public Health Order that temporarily prohibits tourists and visitors from entering the Navajo Nation unless they are delivering essential items that help our people. Navajo Police have been warning tourists and educating them on these provisions. This resolution passed by the Navajo Nation Council reaffirms our position,” said President Nez.
On Friday, Navajo Police Chief Phillip B. Francisco said law enforcement officers would begin issuing citations and fines for individuals who violate the Navajo Nation’s “Stay at Home Order” and the 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. daily curfew, including non-members of the Navajo Nation.
“To be very clear, the restrictions do not apply to truck drivers and essential businesses that deliver essential products to the Navajo Nation, but we strongly advise those businesses and drivers to have some type of verification that states their purpose for transporting,” said Vice President Lizer. “No offense to tourists and visitors, we are doing this for the health and protection of everyone.”
The Navajo Nation’s daily curfew remains in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. The curfew does not apply to essential employees reporting to or from duty, with official identification and/or a letter of designation from their essential business employer on official letterhead which includes a contact for verification.
For more information, including reports, helpful prevention tips, and more resources, please visit the Navajo Department of Health’s COVID-19 website at http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. To contact the main Navajo Health Command Operations Center, please call (928) 871-7014.
