A member of the Navajo Nation has tested positive for coronavirus, said President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer in a Monday Facebook post.
The reservation’s Department of Health told officials that the patient is a 46-year-old with recent travel history. This is the first confirmed case involving a member of the Navajo Nation, according to their statement.
"The Arizona Department of Health confirmed the positive test result from an individual from the community of Chilchinbeto, Ariz., who first reported their symptoms to the Kayenta Health Center in Kayenta, Ariz,” the officials said in the post. “The individual was taken to a hospital in Phoenix, Ariz. where the test was conducted.”
Nez and Lizer said the health and emergency officials are screening and isolating the patient’s family members.
“We call upon our Navajo people to do their best to remain calm and make good decisions by staying home to prevent the spread of the virus among our communities,” officials said.
Nez and Lizer said the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry is donating $1 million to help the Navajo Nation combat the spread of coronavirus. The officials are also asking the 24th Navajo Nation Council to convene so it can appropriate funds to help health and emergency professionals address the outbreak.
