Navajo Nation president hopes stay-at-home order will slow coronavirus
Nov 16, 2020, 5:00 PM | Updated: 5:01 pm
(Mark Ralston /AFP via Getty Images
PHOENIX – Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez is hopeful the newly instituted three week stay-at-home order will help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
Nez said he believes the Navajo Nation’s strict lockdown orders over the summer helped them avoid a surge that most of the nation previously saw.
“That worked for us back in early May, mid-May and we managed to not have one of the waves that this country went through, and so we’ve learned a lot and because of those lessons learned, we are putting some of those tough measures back in,” Nez told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Gaydos & Chad Show on Monday.
The Navajo Nation’s stay-at-home order is designed to prevent residents from traveling outside of the reservation.
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Nez said families often have multiple generations living in the same home, which can be detrimental if someone brings the virus home.
“Once someone brings the virus home, it spread pretty quick,” Nez said.
On Sunday, the Navajo Nation reported 117 new cases and 4 recent deaths, bringing the documented totals to 13,373 infections and 602 fatalities.
During the stay-at-home order, only essential businesses like grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and laundry mats will be allowed to stay open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
When people do go to leave the nation, they’re alerted that they have to be back before curfew or law enforcement could issue them a ticket.
For visitors, Nez said the Navajo Nation is asking them to not stop anywhere and continue straight through to get to their destination.
