
- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez is encouraging Navajo citizens to take all precautions in the Nation's continuing fight against Covid-19.
“Wearing a mask in public and when you’re around other people makes a difference and helps to prevent the virus from spreading from person to person,” Nez said on Monday.
“You’re a warrior if you wear a mask because you’re helping to save lives and to protect our children and elders. This modern-day monster known as COVID-19 is an invisible virus, and it can affect anyone of any age, ethnicity, or background. We have to keep fighting and not let up.”
On Monday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 11 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. The total number of deaths remains 559 as previously reported on Sunday. Reports indicate that 7,278 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 109,181 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 10,454, including two additional cases that was previously unreported due to delayed reporting or reconciliation.
Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:
- Chinle Service Unit: 2,428
- Crownpoint Service Unit: 302
- Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 1,050
- Gallup Service Unit: 1,646
- Kayenta Service Unit: 1,344
- Shiprock Service Unit: 1,598
- Tuba City Service Unit: 994
- Winslow Service Unit: 486
* Six residences with COVID-19 positive cases are not specific enough to place them accurately in a Service Unit.
On Monday, the state of New Mexico reported 158 new cases of COVID-19, the state of Arizona reported 316 new cases, and Utah reported 1,105.
The Navajo people did a good job in bringing our numbers down by following the CDC guidelines and public health orders from the Navajo Department of Health and we can do it again. Stay home, wear a mask, wash your hands, practice social distancing, and avoid large gatherings," Nez said.
On Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 10:00 a.m. (MDT), President Nez and Vice President Lizer will host an online town hall to provide additional COVID-19 updates on the Nez-Lizer Facebook page. Updates will also be provided regarding the 2020 Census, including a recent court order that requires the Census Bureau to continue counting individuals until Oct. 31, 2020.
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
Calfornia Gov. Newsom Announces $15 Million in Grants to Support Tribal Economic Development and Job Creation
Protests Greet Western Governors in Santa Fe
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