Copyright © 2020 Albuquerque Journal
New COVID-19 cases and deaths remain at record levels on the Navajo Nation, as the reservation begins another three-week lockdown designed to curb spread of the virus.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, in a video update Tuesday, pleaded with residents to stay home. He pointed to a growing spike in new virus cases following the Labor Day holiday in early September.
“We let down after Labor Day,” Nez said. “We have to take ownership of that.”
The Navajo Nation reported no new cases on Sept. 8. But since then, cases have risen to their highest levels at any point during the pandemic. For nearly a week, 150 to 310 cases have been reported each day.
The reservation reported 15 new COVID-19 deaths on Monday – more than any of the surrounding states of New Mexico, Arizona or Utah. About 173,000 people live on the Navajo Nation.
A total of 682 Navajo residents have died of the virus as of Monday night, and there have been 18,163 reported cases.
The lockdown requires all residents to stay home except for essential trips. Essential businesses are operating for limited hours during the week and are closed on the weekends.
On Monday, the Navajo Department of Health issued a warning that 77 communities on the reservation are experiencing uncontrolled spread of COVID-19.
Navajo leaders are aware that the lockdowns and the pandemic have taken a toll on residents, said Perphelia Fowler, director of the Navajo Nation Division of Human Resources.
“Our physicians are working closely with mental health and behavioral health professionals,” Fowler said. “We do see increases in various areas, such as domestic violence. We do see a lot of individuals turning to alcohol, to drug abuse.”
The Navajo Department of Health offers a COVID-19 mental health helpline and resources for how to address grief during the pandemic.
