After a weekend where police officers issued over 100 citations to people traveling when it was not necessary, the Navajo Nation announced April 14 there will be 57-hour curfews for the next three weekends.

From 8 pm on April 17 - 5 am on April 20, residents on the Navajo Nation are being told to stay home and not travel anywhere.

Navajo Police will strictly enforce the curfew order by issuing citations to violators that may include a fine up to $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail.

The additional curfews are the latest attempt to slow the spread of positive COVID-19 cases on the reservation, which continue to climb as people continue to travel when it is not needed.

The Navajo Department...

Navajo Nation considers curfew a success

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – In a single weekend, the Navajo Police Department issued over 115 criminal nuisance citations for violations of the Navajo Public Health Emergency Order No. 2020-05.

The curfew began April 10 at 8 pm and ended April 13 at 5 am. The purpose of the curfew was to restrict the movement of people on the Navajo Nation and minimize the spread of COVID-19 in communities.

The overall success of the operation was evident in the limited number of travelers on the roadways, with the exception of essential employees who provided proper documentation.

“The enforcement was successful in that we saw a decline in the number of people...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - The Navajo Police Department confirms nine employees have tested positive for COVID-19 as of April 15.

The employees have been placed on self-quarantine and are monitoring their symptoms. As a precautionary measure, the police building in Chinle, Ariz. will begin the process of decontamination.

“The support staff with the Chinle district will be placed on administrative leave during the disinfection and sanitization process,” Chief Phillip Francisco said. “Because of our responsibilities to the community, we will continue to be vigilant and committed to answering calls of service while keeping the safety of the public a high priority.”

The department has...

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials announced April 15, 80 additional positive tests for COVID-19, bringing the state total to 1,484 positive tests.

Per the state Department of Health, the positive test results come from:

•  13 new cases in Bernalillo County

•  1 new case in Cibola County

•  4 new cases in Doña Ana County

•  1 new case in Grant County

•  38 new cases in McKinley County

•  9 new cases in Sandoval County

•  11 new cases in San Juan County

•  2 new cases in Santa Fe County

•  1 new case in Socorro County

McKinley County now has 242 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the number of deaths of New Mexico residents...