By Associated Press - Thursday, December 31, 2020

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) - Officials on the Navajo Nation are reporting 287 new cases of the coronavirus and 23 more deaths.

Thursday’s figures come on top of 225 new cases the tribal government reported Wednesday along with two additional deaths. The new reports bring the total number of cases on the reservation that extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah to 23,090. More than half of those people have recovered, the Navajo Department of Health said. The death toll is 806.

Navajo President Jonathan Nez said the high number of cases reported over the two days is likely due to reporting delays over the Christmas holiday.

“However, we understand that we are still in a dire situation just like the rest of this country,” Nez said in a statement. “We all have to remember that the resilience of our ancestors is still within each of us to this day.

Nez, Tribal Council Speaker Seth Damon and Navajo Area Indian health Service Chief Medical Officer Dr. Loretta Christensen received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine Thursday during a live online town hall to help boost public confidence in the vaccines. Several other members of the Navajo Nation Council were also inoculated.

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