WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) - The Navajo Nation on Thursday reported 15 more confirmed COVID-19 cases and one additional death.
The latest figures bring the pandemic totals on the tribe’s reservation, which includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, increased to 30,213 with the known death toll at 1,260.
On Tuesday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez announced the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 B.1.429 variant on the Navajo Nation, which came from a test sample obtained in the Chinle Service Unit area.
The variant was first identified in the state of California and has since been detected across the southwest U.S.
“Keep fighting COVID-19 by continuing to take all precautions. We cannot afford to have another large surge in new cases and deaths,” Nez said in a statement. “With the detection of two variants - the California and U.K. variants - on the Navajo Nation, we have to step up our efforts to remain safe and healthy.’’
In all, nearly 16,500 people on the Navajo Nation have recovered from COVID-19.
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