The Navajo Nation reported nine additional known cases of COVID-19 and eight more deaths Thursday.
The reservation was a national hotspot for the virus last year but infections and fatalities have flattened in recent weeks.
Still, President Jonathan Nez was critical of Gov. Doug Ducey’s decision to relax most remaining COVID restrictions in Arizona. Nez is urging tribal members to continue wearing masks and avoid off-reservation travel.
“I offer my condolences and prayers for the families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19. Unfortunately, the Governor of Arizona announced that the state of Arizona is relaxing even more COVID-19 restrictions ... Now is not the time to let up our guard. We have to stay the course and keep pushing back on COVID-19,” said President Nez in a press release.
The Navajo Nation had a soft reopening last week with 25% capacity for some businesses under certain restrictions.
Since the pandemic began, more than 30,000 people have tested positive for COVID on the reservation and 1,243 have died.
