Navajo Nation: 21 new COVID cases, no deaths 4th day in row

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WINDOW ROCK, Ariz - The Navajo Nation on Wednesday reported 21 new COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths for the fourth consecutive day.

The latest numbers brought the total number of coronavirus-related cases on the vast reservation to 31,239 since the pandemic began more than a year ago.

The number of known deaths remained at 1,366.

The Navajo Nation recently relaxed restrictions to allow visitors to travel on the reservation and visit popular attractions like Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley.

The reservation is the country’s largest at 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

While cases are down, Navajo leaders are urging residents to continue wearing masks and get vaccinated.

"States and counties where a small percentage of people are vaccinated have rising numbers of new infections, hospitalizations and deaths," tribal President Jonathan Nez said in a statement Wednesday. "Here on the Navajo Nation, the mask mandate remains in place for all residents, visitors and tourists. We have to remain strong and keep pushing back on the virus."