Navajo Nation implements partial weekend shutdowns through August

PHOENIX — The Navajo Nation is instituting partial shutdowns over the next four weekends in an effort to combat coronavirus.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez announced in a press release Thursday the community is implementing a 32-hour partial weekend lockdown beginning Saturday at 8 a.m. until 5 a.m. Monday.

The weekend shut downs will continue through the month.

All businesses including stores, gas stations, restaurants, drive-thru food establishments, hay and all other vendors are required to cease operations and close during the partial weekend lockdowns and daily curfew hours, the Navajo Nation said.

Individuals can tend livestock and conduct farming activities, but livestock owners must buy their hay and feed in advance as venders will not be allowed to sell during the lockdowns and curfew hours.

Essential workers reporting to or from duty are exempt from the lockdown. They must have proper identification or have a letter of designation from their employer.

“Here on the Navajo Nation, we’ve gone 42 consecutive days with less than 100 positive COVID-19 cases being reported daily, but we also recognize that the virus still presents substantial risk to our communities,” Nez said in the release. “That risk is elevated even more when we have our citizens traveling off the Navajo Nation, visiting family and friends and going into public often.

“Until there is a safe vaccine in place, we will continue to face this modern-day monster. The 32-hour weekend lockdown presents an opportunity for everyone to prepare for the upcoming winter season by gathering fire wood, water, food and other necessities that will be needed.”

The new order also changes the daily curfew hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“It’s critical that people plan and prepare ahead of time for the partial weekend lockdowns and daily curfews,” Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer said in the release. “We will continue to assess the daily number of cases and listen to the health care experts to determine if more public health orders are needed down the road.”

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