Coronavirus continues to impact San Juan

There continues to be a significant difference in how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting San Juan County. 

While the Navajo Nation instituted a strict curfew over the Memorial Day weekend, the State of Utah continues to relax many business, restaurant, and social distancing guidelines.

Bluff and Mexican Hat are two local communities that are caught on the shared border between the State of Utah and the Navajo Nation.

In the past week, while the rest of the state moved to a yellow or lessened state, Utah Governor Gary Herbert approved requests for Bluff and Mexican Hat to transition to Orange, or Moderate Health Risk Status. 

Herbert said, “Because of difficult conditions in the Navajo Nation and along its borders, we are transitioning... Bluff and Mexican Hat from yellow to orange to signal a significant health risk.  

“We very much appreciate working with Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez on efforts to combat COVID-19.

“Our hearts go out to all of our Navajo friends who have been impacted by this awful virus.”

Utah’s color-coded health guidance does not apply to the current situation on the sovereign Navajo Nation lands located in Utah”. 

The State of Utah strongly encourages Utah residents living on tribal lands to follow all tribal health directives.

Coronavirus cases continue to grow in San Juan County, driven in part by the extensive free testing clinics that have been offered in Navajo Mountain, Monument Valley, Montezuma Creek, and Blanding.

There have been 268 positive coronavirus tests for San Juan County residents, with 27 hospitalizations and four deaths.