Navajo Nation Native American to go 3 week Lockdown
The Navajo Nation Native American tribe in the southeastern US has announced a three week lockdown to curb rising infections.
On Saturday, the tribe’s health officials said over 170 new infections had been recorded. There are currently over 13,000 cases active in the region of some 173,000 people.
“With nearly 900 new cases of Covid-19 reported on the Navajo Nation in the last week and with surging cases across the country, we have to implement these public health measures to protect our Navajo people and reduce the spread of this virus,” tribal president Jonathan Nez said in a statement.
The order closes government offices and some businesses in the territory, which is semi-autonomous from the US government. It also requires people or stay home and and only go out for essential supplies or medical treatment.
Nez also vetoed an effort by the tribal council to reopen their four casinos. Casinos are permitted in several tribal territories because state officials do not have the authority to ban them.
The Covid outbreak in Navajo territory has been among the worst in the US.
