WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation reported 47 new cases of the coronavirus Tuesday and no additional deaths.
The latest positive cases of COVID-19 on the sprawling reservation bring the total number to 8,290. The death toll remains at 401 people.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said that while data is improving, residents need to be mindful that many towns and cities near the reservation have seen significant increases in new COVID-19 cases.
“We are cautiously optimistic that we will not see a spike in cases due to the recent Fourth of July holiday weekend,” he said.
Nez said residents need to continue wearing masks, practicing social distancing and abiding by a state-at-home order. A daily curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. is in effect on weekdays.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
The reservation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. The vast majority of people recover.
