Arizona county leads in COVID-19-cases on Navajo Nation

Arizona’s Apache County has now surpassed neighboring McKinley County in New Mexico as having the most COIVD-19 cases on the Navajo Nation.

Health officials reported 141 additional COVID-19 cases with eight additional deaths on the tribe’s sprawling reservation that has been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak.

Officials reported a total of 3,632 positive cases and 127 deaths as of Thursday, with preliminary reports indicating that approximately 515 people have recovered from COVID-19.

Tribal officials said Apache County had 948 positive cases as of Thursday, while McKinley County had 928. Arizona’s Navajo County had 757 cases and New Mexico’s San Juan County had 428. Six other counties in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah had smaller numbers.

RELATED: Navajo Nation leaders urge NPS to keep Grand Canyon closed

McKinley County’s outbreak prompted a since-ended lockdown of the city of Gallup.

Tribal officials said the Navajo Nation’s total cases newly include 99 cases that were added this week and that previously weren’t reported due to jurisdictional challenges and “longer than normal verification processes.”

• In order to protect yourself from a possible infection, the CDC recommends: 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

MAP: Worldwide interactive Coronavirus case data

MAP: Arizona Coronavirus cases by zip code

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Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

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https://www.azdhs.gov/coronavirus

On CoronavirusNOW.com, you'll find extensive coverage about COVID-19, including breaking news from around the country, exclusive interviews with health officials, and informative content from a variety of public health resources.

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Symptoms for coronavirus COVID-19 include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. These, of course, are similar to the common cold and flu. 

Expect a common cold to start out with a sore or scratchy throat, cough, runny and/or stuffy nose. Flu symptoms are more intense and usually come on suddenly, and can include a high fever. 

Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear more slowly. They usually include fever, a dry cough and noticeable shortness of breath, according to the World Health Organization. A minority of cases develop pneumonia, and the disease is especially worrisome for the elderly and those with other medical problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, or heart conditions.

RELATED: Is it the flu, a cold or COVID-19? Different viruses present similar symptoms

Right now there's one big difference between flu and coronavirus: A vaccine exists to help prevent the flu and it's not too late to get it. It won't protect you from catching the coronavirus, but may put you in a better position to fight it.

To protect yourself, wash your hands well and often, keep them away from your face, and avoid crowds and standing close to people.

And if you do find yourself showing any of these flu or coronavirus symptoms - don't go straight to your doctor's office. That just risks making more people sick, officials urge. Call ahead, and ask if you need to be seen and where.