DILKON — Just like communities everywhere, the COVID-19 variant Omnicron was wreaking havoc across southwest Navajo this week as the number of reported positive cases have reached sky high numbers and long lines for COVID-19 testing throughout.
On Friday, Jan. 14, the number of positive COVID-19 cases jumped from 245 on Wednesday, to the highest daily count of 525 with no deaths, said Navajo President Jonathan Nez. “Today’s high number of cases should serve as a strong reminder to all of our Navajo people to get fully vaccinated, get a booster shot if you’re eligible, wear two protective masks in public, limit travel, and stay home as much as possible,” Nez wrote. “The Omicron variant is spreading in our communities and it is highly-contagious.”
He urged schools to offer hybrid learning for students and parents who want to keep their children home and continue their school work virtually.
On Jan. 11, the Navajo Department of Health also issued public health order No. 2022-02, declaring a “Red Status” for all schools within the boundaries of the Navajo reservation. Among many other conditions, the order is binding and it states: “All individuals on the Nation two years of age and older shall wear masks while in public (any area outside your home where you could come within six feet of someone who is not from your household).
In a Jan. 13 letter to southwest area schools served by Winslow Indian Health Care Corp., WIHCC COVID-19 School Health Task Force Leader Sausha Nells, a registered nurse said, “We are seeing a drastic surge in COVID cases in our WIHCC communities among all eight reservation communities and the bordertowns of Winslow, Joseph City and Holbrook. We currently have 426 active COVID cases that our WIHCC case managers are working hard to give attention to.”
Nells also reported 94 school age children are positive with COVID-19, with 125 pending tests on school aged children.
At Dilcon Community School, the school recently revised its policy so that the entire school doesn’t have to shut down for a single positive case, but instead some areas of the school will remain open that are not impacted.
At Leupp Public School, Principal Ryan Chee said they are braced for the surge, “[We have] strong mitigation plans, onsite testing, weekly PCR testing, remote learning ready, parent collaboration…etc.”
Over at Winslow High School, the Saturday night home basketball game against Tuba City High School was abruptly cancelled on Saturday after some of the student players tested positive for COVID-19. WHS Principal Sal Hernandez did not return calls or emails for comment.
Bashas’ corporate office also sent out a statement to Navajo communities they serve to inform them of impending supply shortages, and restocking plans. But as of Friday, Jan. 14, the Bashas’ store in Dilkon seemed to be stocked up, said area residents on Facebook.
