WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Nation on Tuesday reported 18 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and two more deaths.

Tribal health officials said the latest figures pushed the total number of cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago to 30,740 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

The known death toll is now 1,295.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said more than half of the reservation’s adult population has been vaccinated.

Nez visited vaccination sites in Kayenta and Chinle on Tuesday to offer his support for health care workers and to encourage local residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which now is available to people who are 12 and older.

“The vaccines are key to pushing back on the virus and continuing to bring down the numbers of new infections and deaths,” Nez said. “Please continue to limit travel, wear a mask in public at all times, practice social distancing and wash your hands often.”