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Dozens of Navajo Nation communities report high COVID-19 transmission

A sign urging safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic is displayed in Teesto, Ariz., on the Navajo Nation on Feb. 11, 2021.
Felicia Fonseca
/
AP Photo
A sign urging safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic is displayed in Teesto, Ariz., on the Navajo Nation on Feb. 11, 2021.

Thirty-four communities on the Navajo Nation have been identified as having high COVID-19 transmission. They include Ganado, Chinle and Crownpoint, N.M.

Tribal officials urge residents to continue wearing masks, distancing from others and getting vaccines and boosters.

The tribe says in the last week, they’ve recorded 280 new known cases of the virus along with five COVID deaths.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Navajo and Apache counties are currently in a medium level of community transmission.

The rest of Arizona remains in low transmission along with three-quarters of total U.S. counties. But health officials nationwide fear a winter surge of the virus could be around the corner.