Navajo Nation citizen who had symptoms of COVID-19 went to Kayenta Health Center and then transferred to Phoenix hospital. (Courtesy Photo)
- Details
- By Levi Rickert
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Leaders of the Navajo Nation and the Indian Health Service confirmed the first COVID-19 case of a Navajo citizen on Tuesday afternoon.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, Vice President Myron Lizer and Indian Health Service reported that the COVID-19 case involves a 46-year-old Navajo citizen from the community of Chilchinbeto, Ariz.
The individual, who was recently on travel outside the Navajo Nation, first reported having coronavirus symptoms to the Kayenta Health Center in Kayenta, Ariz. The individual has been transferred to a hospital in Phoenix, Ariz., where a test was conducted by the Arizona Department of Health. Members of the individual’s family are being screened and isolated.
President Nez and Vice President Lizer will provide more information live at 5:00 p.m. (MDT) on Wednesday on KTNN-AM 660 and 101.5 FM.
“We have health and emergency experts who have been planning and preparing for this situation for several weeks,” Nez said in a statement. “We call upon our Navajo people to do their best to remain calm and make good decisions by staying home to prevent the spread of the virus among our communities.
“We are in close contact with officials from the Kayenta Indian Health Service Unit, Arizona Department of Health, Navajo County, and Navajo Area Indian Health Service to take the proper measures to inform the public, take precautions, and remain proactive.”
President Nez and Vice President Lizer ask for the public to remain calm and to let the health and emergency experts do what they are trained to do in these situations.
Questions from the public may be directed to the Navajo Health Command Operations Center at (928) 871-7014. If a person has symptoms related to the COVID-19 virus, please contact your local health care center prior to your arrival. Please see list of health care center on the Navajo Nation:
Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility
(928) 674-7001/7688
Crownpoint Health Care Facility
(505) 786-5291/6381
Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board, INC
(928) 729-8000
Gallup Indian Medical Center
(505) 722-1000
Sage Memorial
(928) 755-4500
Kayenta Health Center
(928) 697-4000
Northern Navajo Medical Center
(505) 368-6001
Tuba City Regional Health Care
(866) 976-5941
Utah Navajo Health System
(866) 976-5941
Winslow Indian Health Care Center
(928) 289-4646
Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center
(844) 542-8201
New Mexico Coronavirus Hotline
(855) 600-3453
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