Navajo coronavirus cases increase to 1,360 with 52 deaths

Photo: Supplies distributed to Jeddito, one of 110 chapters on the Navajo Nation,

located in the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

78 new cases and three more deaths related to COVID-19 reported

By Navajo President's Office

Censored News

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Department of Health in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 78 new cases of COVID-19 and a total of 52 deaths for the Navajo Nation as of Thursday. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation has reached 1,360, which includes 642 men and 718 women with an average age of 48-years-old. There is a total of 6,473 negative test results.

The 1,360 confirmed positive cases on the Navajo Nation include the following counties: Navajo County, AZ: 350; Apache County, AZ: 287; Coconino County, AZ: 229; McKinley County, NM: 296; San Juan County, NM: 135; Cibola County, NM: 14; San Juan County, UT: 19; Socorro County, NM: 17; Sandoval County, NM: 13.

Nez-Lizer lead food and care package distribution to rural community members

On Thursday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer led a massive distribution of care packages, food supplies, and fire wood to approximately 250 members of the Navajo Nation who reside in the remote area Jeddito, Ariz., to help families and high-risk residents with essential items during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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Kinlani Flagstaff Mutual Aid sending aid to Navajo and Hopi as donations arrive at Taala Hooghan Infoshop

Photos courtesy Klee Benally

Censored News

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The volunteer crew with Kinlani/Flagstaff Mutual Aid are supporting Navajo and Hopi Family Relief at Taala Hooghan Infoshop in Flagstaff, Ariz. During April, supplies bound for Navajo and Hopi on the Navajo and Hopi Nations arrived in Flagstaff for delivery.

Actor Jason Momoa donated a truckload of water, and Dr. Bronners sent soaps and hand sanitizers. Supplies arriving included fresh food, masks and cleaning supplies. Can'd Aid donated water which was delivered to Tuba City.

Klee Benally said, "This is what we call Solidarity, not Charity. Unsheltered relatives preparing wellness kits for each other, organizing clothing distribution, and planning actions for their wellbeing. We're gearing up thanks to all y'all who've donated (even Dr. Bronners for Navajo and Hopi Families Relief)!" Check out www.kinlanimutualaid.org or donate via PayPal: indigenousaction@gmail.com

On Wednesday, Klee Benally said, "Unloaded 250 gallons/2,000 lbs of hand sanitizer for Navajo Hopi COVID 19 Relief today. Now to find 8-16oz spray bottles to fill and distribute!"

Klee said, "This system failed us long before COVID-19. We cannot talk about bringing our people up through this crisis without organizing to tear this system down. As mutual aid efforts spread to radically redistribute resources, we also have to redistribute power. We have to understand how capitalism and colonialism are founded on the material deprivations of our communities. We also have to understand how resource colonialism has impacted out bodies and compromised our immune systems.

"If we truly want to honor our Mother Earth, this means attacking capitalism, white supremacy, hetero-patriarchy, and colonialism at its roots. Unless these root ideologies are done away with, we condemn ourselves and future generations to non-existence. Capitalism is not sustainable, it's a virus. Colonialism is a plague."

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Photos: Load of fruit and handwashing stations going to Chilchinbito. Jessica from Navajo Hopi Relief hauling canned water to Leupp with Kinlani Mutual Aid volunteer support. Dr. Bronner soap and hand sanitizer in food boxes being prepped for distribution in Leupp. Ahe'hee' to all the volunteers with Kinłani Mutual Aid for holding it down and supporting the relief efforts and to everyone who has donated! 

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Actor Jason Momoa said, "SUPER STOKED AND PROUD TO DELIVER Mananalu Water. We sent a full truckload (20,000 cans) of Mananalu water to the Navajo Nation. My water company is still small but I’m doing what I can to help those that need it the most. MAHALO NUI @theellenshow for helping us spread the aloha. Thanks to the Navajo and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief campaign for helping us distribute our water to the families. This is a grassroots effort led by a group of Navajo women who work 14 hours a day with no pay in order to raise funds and support for Navajo families in need during this terrible pandemic."

"That’s amazing. Native American tribes are among the highest risk communities during the coronavirus pandemic, and a lot of them haven’t gotten the resources they need to fight the virus. This includes medical equipment and basic goods like food and clean water. About 40 percent of the residents live in rural areas and have little to no access to running water. They’re literally living in a 'food desert' with very few grocery stores and the land is very spread out. Many families have to travel several miles just to haul water," Momoa said.

Volunteer crew with Kinlani/Flagstaff Mutual Aid supporting Navajo and Hopi Family Relief unloading 43,000 lbs of canned water.

Read more about Navajo Hopi COVID 19 Relief at Censored News:

TÓ NANEESDIZÍ, DINÉTAH, (TUBA CITY, NAVAJO NATION) — As COVID-19 cases on the Navajo Nation reach 1,042 with 41 deaths, the Navajo and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund is building momentum to address a food and water crisis in the area with support from actor Jason Momoa. A massive truck carrying 28 pallets with 1,540 cases of water was sent by Momoa to Tó naneesdizí (Tuba City) on Tuesday.

A group of volunteers led by Lt. Robbin Preston, Tuba City Distribution Team Leader for the Navajo and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Effort, unloaded the donation and prepared it for immediate distribution throughout the crisis-stricken area.

"Water is life and shapes lives and the earth; it’s the power we draw life from," said Lt. Preston.

Momoa, who is Native Hawaiian, heard about the Relief Fund through an article and offered a large donation of water through his company, Mananalu Pure Water, which is an effort to end single-use plastic drinking bottles and their devastating impacts on the environment. According to the company’s website Mananalu means “a powerful wave of the sacred spirit of life.” -- Cassandra Begay

Read article:

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2020/04/actor-jason-momoa-joins-efforts-in.html

Navajo Nation files lawsuit for share of federal funds, with 76 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours

Now 76 new cases and one more death related to COVID-19 reported

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer

Censored News

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Department of Health in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 76 new cases of COVID-19 and a total of 49 deaths for the Navajo Nation as of Wednesday. As of Wednesday, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation is 1,282, which includes 606 men and 676 women with an average age of 48-years-old. The average age among deaths is 65-years-old.


The 1,282 confirmed positive cases on the Navajo Nation include the following counties: Navajo County, AZ: 342; Apache County, AZ: 260; Coconino County, AZ: 222; McKinley County, NM: 270; San Juan County, NM: 128; Cibola County, NM: 14; San Juan County, UT: 16; Socorro County, NM: 17; Sandoval County, NM: 13

“Unfortunately, today we had to file a lawsuit against the federal government to get our share of the federal dollars that have been allocated for tribes. The First Americans are once again having to fight for what is right and what is ours. Now is the time for us as Diné people to be united against COVID-19, by adhering to the Navajo Nation’s shelter-in-place order and the daily and weekend curfews. Some states are beginning to consider loosening restrictions, but not the Navajo Nation. We are relying on the health care experts and the facts as we continue the fight against COVID-19,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

The Navajo Nation extended its declaration of a state of emergency and also extended the closure of Navajo Nation government offices and related entities until May 17, to help slow the spread of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation. The previous Executive Order was set to expire on April 26.

“To our Navajo people, please remain diligent in practicing social distancing and by remaining home as much as possible. Our frontline warriors are out there fighting to protect and heal our people, so let’s stay home for them. We have police officers who are recovering from the virus, so please keep them in your prayers. We will get through this together,” Vice President Lizer stated.

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.

Navajo Nation reports 63 new cases and 48 deaths, as coronavirus claims lives of Dineh

Jon Morton shares the tragic story of the death of his mother Ruby and

brother Joseph in Page, Arizona, from coronavirus. Both had attended the rally

of the Nazarene Church in Chilchinbeto on the Navajo Nation.

Read article in Phoenix New Times

Jean DeJolie died March 31 after testing positive for COVID-19. She served as a Navajo Mountain, Utah, chapter official. 

Her son Douglas died on March 26. The family could find no hel.

Both died from coronavirus linked to the rally of the Nazarene Church in Chilchinbeto.

Read article at KUER 

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By Navajo President's Office

Censored News

63 new COVID-19 cases and 48 total deaths on the Navajo Nation reported

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Department of Health in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 63 new cases of COVID-19 and a total of 48 deaths for the Navajo Nation as of Tuesday – these numbers do not include cases for border towns as was being previously reported by the Navajo Epidemiology Center.

As of Tuesday, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation is 1,206, which includes 569 men and 637 women with an average age of 48-years-old. The average age among deaths is 65-years-old.

The 1,206 confirmed positive cases on the Navajo Nation include the following counties: Navajo County, AZ: 328; Apache County, AZ: 240; Coconino County, AZ: 214; McKinley County, NM: 244; San Juan County, NM: 121;  Cibola County, NM: 14; San Juan County, UT: 15; Socorro County, NM: 17; Sandoval County, NM: 13

During a live online town hall on Tuesday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer thanked the Navajo people for complying with the Navajo Nation-wide shelter-in-place order and urged everyone to continue honoring the order although the Navajo Epidemiology Center stated in a report on Monday that “there does appear to be a flattening of the Navajo Nation epi curve.

“Now is not the time to let up! To all residents of the Navajo Nation, please continue to stay home as much as possible and to honor the shelter-in-place order that’s in effect. There is still a lot that we don’t know about COVID-19 and we don’t want a second wave to hit our communities. In some states, people are beginning to protest stay-at-home orders, but it is far too early to begin considering fully reopening commerce, government, and establishments. We need more testing, more prevention efforts, and more resources to continue fighting the virus,” said President Nez.

On Monday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer presented the State of the Navajo Nation Address live online and on KTNN 660AM, in which they focused on the many proactive measures that the Navajo Nation has implemented under their leadership. Many of the measures began nearly two months prior to the Navajo Nation’s first confirmed COVID-19 case on March 17.

On Jan. 26, the Nez-Lizer Administration issued its first public warning of the virus and followed up with seven Public Health Emergency Orders that include a Nation-wide shelter-in-place order,

“Let’s keep working together and praying together. Through combined efforts and through our faith, the Navajo people will beat the virus eventually, but it’s been a challenging road so far. Our first responders are out working for us, so let’s stay home for them. Our prayers and our appreciation for our health care workers and everyone on the frontlines is never-ending. Let’s keep the positive momentum going so we can overcome COVID-19 sooner than later,” said Vice President Lizer.

During the online town hall, President Nez and Vice President Lizer also stated that a new Executive Order is being developed to continue requiring non-essential Navajo Nation employees within the Executive Branch to remain home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We are beginning to see good signs, but we are not out of the woods by any means. We still have many people who are sick and in need of care. We are continuing to lose lives and it’s devastating for us all, especially for their loved ones. Let’s continue fighting the virus together by staying home as much as possible and praying for our health care workers and first responders” said Vice President Lizer.

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.

Navajo Nation extends closure of government until May 17 to reduce the spread of COVID-19

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — On Tuesday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer issued Executive Order 003-20, extending the declaration of a state of emergency and extending the closure of Navajo Nation government offices and related entities until May 17, to help slow and reduce the spread of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation. The previous Executive Order was set to expire on April 26.


“We’re not letting our guard down – now is not the time. We’re seeing a slight flattening of the curve, but we have to remain vigilant. As the leaders of the Navajo Nation, we are doing everything we can to help save as many lives as possible. Government offices will be closed, but essential personnel will continue their duties and essential government functions will continue,” said President Nez.

The written Order states, “All Navajo Nation Divisions, Departments, Programs, Offices, non-governance certified Chapters, Enterprises, and Navajo casinos shall follow the direction of the Public Health Emergency Orders requiring all Navajo citizens to limit their movement which means staying at home and leaving for Essential Activities only; and comply with the curfew hours by staying home between the house of 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. MDT and complying with weekend or other curfew hours.”

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now warning the public that there could be a second wave of COVID-19 this coming winter, which could be very devastating combined with the regular flu season. So, we need to remain diligent in practicing social distancing and by remaining home as much as possible. Our frontline warriors are out there fighting to protect and heal us, so let’s stay home for them,” Vice President Lizer stated.

The Navajo Nation’s shelter-in-place order remains in effect as well as the daily curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. The Navajo Nation will also implement another 57-hour weekend curfew beginning on Friday at 8:00 p.m. until Monday at 5:00 a.m. President Nez and Vice President Lizer encourage everyone to prepare for the weekend curfew to ensure they have enough essential items, but to use caution as they prepare and to only send one family member to purchase items.

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.