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 

.

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.

TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION -- Excavator arrives, desecration of sacred land for Israeli US spy towers

This destruction of sacred land is for the construction of the integrated fixed towers, spy towers. The U.S. Homeland Security contract was given to Elbit Systems, the Israeli defense contractor known globally for human rights abuses in Palestine and around the world. The Tohono O'odham elected government approved the spy towers on tribal land in the spring of 2019, ignoring an outcry from the traditional O'odham struggling to protect sacred land and burial places. Photo by Ofelia Rivas, Censored News.

Ve'ju-pan Doa'g photo by Ofelia Rivas, Censored News.

Systematic System of Destruction

Sacred land destruction underway on Tohono O'odham Nation for Israeli U.S. spy towers

By Ofelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham

Censored News

April 21, 2020

French translation by Christine Prat

This generation's failure to defend the lands is the excavator with a rock drill on it, that arrived yesterday and parked at the end of our community road.

From time immemorial our ancestors' defense of the lands was from the missionaries human limb takers, from conquistadors looking for gold and miners looking for silver and manifest destiny.

We have survived to tell the stories.
This will be a documentation and witnessing of this generation of compromising, non-compliant, two-faced tribal greedy politicians, and the manipulation of the deceitful united states government border patrol personnel and an idiot commander in chief.

Our sacred mountain will be under attack.

The people will never again see the undisturbed lands of the O'odham as these towers will be erected.

The lands are already under unstoppable destruction of unauthorized roads over burial places and culturally significant places, looting of our ancestral belongings called artifacts, and the at-will scraping of hilltops to erect portable surveillance towers.

The countless vehicles are traversing the most pristine areas of our lands.

There is the altering of animal and plant habitats altering the O'odham lands and inherit cultural practices.
I ask the politicians that do not live in our community, or on the reservation, to come and acknowledge the sacred mountain who is the sacrifice.
Sing his song and give him cornmeal, as this mountain has stood for generations of time when people gave it respect and lived in harmony with it -- as he sheltered the newborn deer and gave countless organ pipe cactus fruit for the community and all the saguaro cactus that bear fruit for the animals and people and medicinal plants.

The lives of all O'odham are altered.
The people have endured this demeaning system of oppression.

The Dalai Lama said, "Go to Lhasa and investigate for yourself if the Tibetan people are happy under china authority that restricts Tibetan cultural practices."

When young people are taking their lives out of hopelessness and alcoholism and drug use, and there are all the abuses, sexual and domestic violence, this is the evidence of a broken O'odham society.
I know only to be O'odham. I can not embrace a foreign culture and foreign norms not of my ancestors.
All the strength and wisdom is who we are as O'odham.

When our world comes under attack the warriors only need a signal.

They are there willing to stand firm.
Here I stand.

Read more on the Israeli spy towers being built on the Tohono O'odham Nation at Censored News:

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2020/04/us-border-patrol-agents-ignore-lock.html

Copyright Ofelia Rivas, Censored News, may not be used without permission.

Navajo coronavirus cases surge, with 1,321 cases and 45 deaths, with mask order in place

124 new COVID-19 cases since Saturday, 4,579 negative results reported

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer
Censored News

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The total number of positive tests for COVID-19 has reached 1,321 for the Navajo Nation as of Monday – an increase of 124 positive cases since Saturday, according to the Navajo Department of Health and Navajo Area Indian Health Service, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center. The overall number of positive cases includes cases on the Navajo Nation and nearby border towns. The report also includes 4,579 total negative test results as of Monday. There is a total of 45 confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 as of Monday.

The 1,321 confirmed positive cases include the following counties:

· Navajo County, AZ: 332
· Apache County, AZ: 233
· Coconino County, AZ: 217
· McKinley County, NM: 306
· San Juan County, NM: 177
· Cibola County, NM: 14
· San Juan County, UT: 16
· Socorro County, NM: 13
· Sandoval County, NM: 13

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, limiting mass gatherings, a daily curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., 57-hour weekend curfews in April, and most recently requiring everyone to wear protective masks in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“People have been calling for a complete 24/7 lockdown, but they need to remember that we already have a shelter-in-place order in effect for the entire Navajo Nation that requires everyone to stay home with the exception of essential workers, cases of emergencies, and to get essential items like food and medication. We thank everyone for respecting the stay-at-home order that was recommended by the health care professionals, police officers, and other experts. Unfortunately, we have several Navajo Police Officers who have contracted the virus. They are working hard to protect us, and we don’t have enough police force to be patrolling all of our communities 24/7. The bottom line is that people to hold themselves and others accountable for staying home and stopping the spread of COVID-19,” said President Nez.

The Navajo Police Department reported that 108 citations for curfew violations were issued during the latest 57-hour weekend lockdown from April 17 to April 20. Citations may include up to $1,000 in fines and/or 30 days in jail.

“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.

To view the State of the Navajo Nation Address from President Nez and Vice President Lizer, please visit: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nQY0p0Gb1S4.

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.


More from Censored News

The Navajo Nation is located in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah: States show new dashboards of cases

New Mexico State reports 17 coronavirus deaths in San Juan County, where Shiprock is located; six deaths in Sandoval County, which includes Jemez, Santa Ana, Cochiti and Santo Domingo Pueblos; five deaths in McKinley County, which includes Gallup, Zuni Pueblo and portions of the Navajo Nation; and 24 deaths in Bernalillo, which includes Albuquerque. https://cvprovider.nmhealth.org/public-dashboard.html

The State of Arizona shows coronavirus cases by zipcode and says it has mapped 90 percent to the person's residence. Currently, Native American Nations are not shown and permission is pending, it says. The massive prison complex is shown between Phoenix and Tucson, where there are a large number of cases. -- https://adhsgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/84b7f701060641ca8bd9ea0717790906

The State of Utah has labeled its coronavirus dashboard as "Surveillance." https://coronavirus-dashboard.utah.gov/

New Mexico Town Hall: More than one-third of coronavirus cases are Native Americans

New Mexico's Tribal Communities and COVID-19: A Virtual Town Hall

Article by Brenda Norrell

Censored News

The New Mexico's Tribal Communities Town Hall highlighted the needs of health care, and the economic losses for Pueblos, as the coronavirus spreads through communities.

Broadcasting from the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, host Conroy Chino, Acoma Pueblo, said Native American cases of coronavirus make up 37 percent of the coronavirus cases in New Mexico, even though Native people total only 10 percent of the population. Most of the cases are in the northwest corner of the state.

Navajo President Jonathan Nez said the health care system across the country needs to be improved. Thanking the doctors, nurses and first responders, President Nez said this crisis has highlighted the underfunding of Indian Health Service.

"This is a public health emergency," President Nez said. 

Chino said his son is a surgeon working triage at Tuba City Indian Medical Center.

The closure of casinos has resulted in enormous economic losses for Native people and the state of New Mexico.

Laguna Pueblo Gov. Willfred Herrera, Jr., said Pueblos businesses have contributed financially to the State of New Mexico. The Pueblo casinos and businesses generated $608 million in revenues in the state, with 11,500 jobs in 2018. Herrera serves as the Vice-Chair of the All Indian Pueblo Council of Governors.

U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., reported on the efforts made in Congress, including new efforts for expanded broadband in New Mexico.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and New Mexico Indian Affairs Dept. Secretary Lynn Trujillo described the efforts underway. Watch the video below as community members share their messages.

In related news, Monday, April 20. New Mexico reports another death in San Juan County, where Shiprock is located on the Navajo Nation. There have been 15 deaths from coronavirus here. 

There have been five deaths in McKinley County, which includes Gallup, portions of the Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo. 

The New Mexico website shows the zipcode area for Zia Pueblo, San Luis and San Ysidro has 82 cases of coronavirus.
https://cvprovider.nmhealth.org/public-dashboard.html

Currently, there are more than 1,000 cases of coronavirus on the Navajo Nation, with 44 deaths reported. 

Watch New Mexico Town Hall on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLZvpIuKICk&feature=emb_logo





COVID-19 is hitting New Mexico's tribal communities hard, and accurate information is more important than ever. Sunday, April 19 at 6 p.m., NMPBS presents New Mexico's Tribal Communities and COVID-19: A Virtual Town Hall - featuring both state and tribal officials. Acoma Pueblo member Conroy Chino moderates.