President Biden declared Wednesday that a major disaster exists for the Navajo Nation over COVID-19 and ordered more federal assistance to fight the pandemic at the nation’s largest Native American reservation.
Why it matters: The Navajo Nation, like many Indigenous communities across the U.S., faces a housing shortage that has forced multiple family members to share small homes and a lack of running water that create the opportunity for superspreader events.
- COVID-19 has claimed more than 1,000 lives on the Navajo Nation.
- More than 28,000 cases have been reported on the sprawling reservation of 173,000 people.
- The virus recently killed former tribal President Albert Hale.
Details: Under the disaster declaration, federal funding is available to the Navajo Nation and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures.
- The declaration came after Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez went with Biden officials to request more COVID-19 vaccines and asked for a disaster declaration.
Source: Biden OKs Navajo Nation disaster declaration over spreading COVID-19 – Axios



You must be logged in to post a comment.