Things will be quiet on the Navajo Nation from 8 am April 10 to 5 am April 12 as the Nation conforms to a 57-hour curfew ordered by the Navajo Department of Health in conjunction with the Navajo Nation Public Health State of Emergency Declaration (CEM Resolution No. 20-03-11) on April 5.
Public Health Emergency Order No. 2020-005 states that due to the community spread of COVID-19, all individuals on the Nation and across the nation shall be at home during curfew hours, except in the event of an emergency.
The curfew does not apply to essential employees reporting to or from work, with official identification and/or a letter of designation from their employer on official letterhead, which includes a contact for verification.
Essential businesses should limit operations during the stated curfew to the greatest extent possible. This does not apply to healthcare operations, essential governmental functions, essential infrastructure activities, or essential businesses that do not directly serve customers.
This Order shall not abrogate any disease-reporting requirement (consistent with HIPAA privacy standards).
It is advised that the public take the following preventative precautions.
Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
Wash hands often with soap and water for at least after 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing or having been in a public place. Use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are unavailable.
Wherever possible, avoid touching surfaces such as elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, and avoid shaking hands. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hands or finger if you must touch something.
Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, and cell phones).
Avoid all public gatherings.
Avoid all non-emergency travel.
Essential businesses include healthcare operations, essential governmental functions and essential infrastructure (e. g. courts of law, medical providers for urgent care, public utilities and critical school operations, such as nutrition programs), grocery stores, food banks, convenience stores, hardware stores and other establishments engaged in the retail and wholesale sale of groceries, non-grocery products and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operation of residences.
Essential employees are those identified by essential businesses deemed necessary to the continued operation of those essential businesses.
Essential governmental functions includes all services needed to ensure the continuing operation of the governmental agencies that provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public.
Essential infrastructure incorporates public works construction, construction of housing, water, sewer, gas, electrical, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection and removal, internet and telecommunications systems, including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services.
Social distancing means limiting contact between people to 6 feet, not shaking hands, and avoiding crowds.
Additional 24-hour or full weekend curfews may follow at the direction of the Health Command Center.
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