FARMINGTON – Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez will sign a new executive order to keep a portion of the tribal government closed through Aug. 16 because of the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Wednesday.
Divisions, departments and offices under the executive branch were to reopen July 27 under the order Nez signed late last month.
Tribal officials told the Farmington Daily Times that Nez’s decision was based on recommendations and data from health-care experts.
Steps for reopening the government remain under evaluation and Nez said his administration is in the process of finalizing a plan to reopen the executive branch in stages.
The Navajo Nation’s three-branch government has been closed to the public and restrictions on services have been in place since the first COVID-19 cases were reported in March.
The tribe has been flattening the curve in new cases since June, but areas surrounding tribal land have seen surges.
As of Tuesday, the total of infected reservation residents stood at 8,639 with 425 known deaths.
Residents of the reservation that extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah have been under a mandate to wear masks when in public.
The tribe also has nighttime curfews and weekend lockdowns that include the closure of businesses.
