
- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Wednesday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 14 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. The total number of deaths is 484 as of Wednesday. Reports indicate that 6,989 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 90,064 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases is 9,500.
Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:
- Chinle Service Unit: 2,291
- Crownpoint Service Unit: 795
- Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 742
- Gallup Service Unit: 1,524
- Kayenta Service Unit: 1,294
- Shiprock Service Unit: 1,481
- Tuba City Service Unit: 920
- Winslow Service Unit: 449
* Four residences with COVID-19 positive cases are not specific enough to place them accurately in a Service Unit.
Health experts continue to advise that staying home is the best preventative measure to stop the coronavirus spread. When out in public places, wear a face mask, and stay six feet away from others to minimize exposure.
"The number of cases has been decreasing on the Navajo Nation for several weeks, and we commend all Navajo residents for staying alert, prepared, and safe. This invisible monster, called the coronavirus, has entered our homelands for several months, but we can fight it off our lands by practicing all preventative measures. We have to avoid another spike of cases because many of our first responders and healthcare providers have been working around the clock to keep us safe. We thank them for the hard work they do to ensure our safety and well-being," Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said.
President Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer urge Navajo citizens to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by maintaining a six feet distance from others, wearing a face mask, covering your cough and sneeze, cleaning and disinfecting commonly-used surfaces, staying home and isolating if you are sick, and washing your hands for at least 20 seconds.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Pierite Hosts Roundtable with Tribal Leaders and Trump Administration Officials
$38 Million in Cobell Settlement Funds Are Still Available
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher