
- 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 94 new Covid-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and 11 more deaths.
The total number of deaths remains 933 as of Wednesday. Reports indicate that 13,748 individuals have recovered from Covid-19, and 225,099 Covid-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive Covid-19 cases is now 26,612.
Navajo Nation Covid-19 positive cases by Service Unit:
- Chinle Service Unit: 4,946
- Crownpoint Service Unit: 2,682
- Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 2,742
- Gallup Service Unit: 4,270
- Kayenta Service Unit: 2,452
- Shiprock Service Unit: 4,671
- Tuba City Service Unit: 3,110
- Winslow Service Unit: 1,702
* 37 residences with Covid-19 positive cases are not specific enough to place them accurately in a Service Unit.
On Wednesday, the state of Arizona reported 4,845 new cases, Utah reported 2,159, and New Mexico reported 884 new cases. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez visited the Pinon Health Center on Wednesday, where he thanked health care workers as they work to protect local elders by administering the Covid-19 vaccines to individuals who are 65-years and older and those with high-risk medical conditions. Health care facilities across the Navajo Nation continue to administer vaccines to help protect against the virus.
“I commend all of the health care workers and many others who are working outdoors in the winter weather conditions to administer the vaccine to our elders and those with underlying health conditions. Our daily number of new cases have been relatively low recently, but that does not mean that we let our guard down. We have to keep fighting and using our masks, staying home as much as possible, avoiding gatherings, practicing social distancing, and washing your hands often. The Covid-19 variant is also a growing concern. The variant is said to be much more contagious than the current strain of the virus. Be safe and continue to fight this pandemic together,” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said.
The Navajo Health Command Operations Center, under the Navajo Department of Health, now has an online registration form available for those who want to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. The online registry will assist with planning the allocation of vaccines and in scheduling individuals at the appropriate health care facility. Please visit the following link for more information and to register: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/Covid-19/Covid-19-Vaccine/Vaccine-Registration.
On Thursday, Jan. 21 at 10:00 a.m. (MST), the Nez-Lizer Administration will host an online town hall on the Nez-Lizer Facebook page and YouTube channel, and later aired on local radio stations. The Navajo Nation’s stay-at-home order remains in effect for all residents with the exception of essential workers who must report to work, to obtain essential items such as food and medication, and in cases of emergencies.
Covid-19 testing schedules are available online at the Navajo Health Command Operations Center website: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/Covid-19/Covid-19-Testing. For more information, including helpful prevention tips, and resources to help stop the spread of Covid-19, visit the Navajo Department of Health's Covid-19 website: http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/Covid-19. For Covid-19 related questions and information, call (928) 871-7014.
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
$38 Million in Cobell Settlement Funds Are Still Available
California Gov. Newsom Announces $15 Million in Grants to Support Tribal Economic Development and Job Creation
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