Navajo Nation surpasses New York infection rate
PHOENIX, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Navajo Nation now has the highest coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rate in the United States.
Now surpassing New York, the Navajo Nation has been hard-hit by the pandemic, as of Monday reporting 4,071 cases and 142 deaths.
The Navajo nation has a population of over 170,000. With 4,071 cases, the territory has a rate of over 2,000 cases per 100,000 people.
In contrast, the state of New York has an infection rate of over 1,800 cases per 100,000.
This means that as of Monday, the virus has infected about 2.3% of the population, compared to New York’s 1.8% .
In a recent interview, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez explained many residents within the Navajo Nation live in multigenerational homes, meaning it's almost impossible to stop the spread within a home.
He added 30 percent of residents do not have running water. This is compounded with a lack of hospitals and the fact that a handful of groceries are frequented by many people.
A press release by the Navajo Nation Saturday announced the end to the Nation's 57-hour weekend lockdown on Monday, May 18.
“With every passing day, we are a day closer to beating COVID-19," said Vice President Myron Lizer.
"Whether we realize it or not we are winning the war on this virus, but we have to stay the course when it comes to staying home as much as possible, wearing masks in public, washing our hands often, and taking every precaution to ensure our health and safety especially for our elders and children."
