Navajo Nation reports more coronavirus cases per capita than any US state

The Navajo Nation has more coronavirus cases per capita than any state in the U.S., according to data released by the Navajo Nation Sunday. 

The Navajo Nation reported 149 new coronavirus cases Sunday, bringing the total number to 3,122. 

The total is higher per capita than that reported by the states reporting the highest totals of COVID-19 cases. 

According to the most recent 2010 census data, about 173,667 people live in the Navajo Nation, meaning there are roughly 1,786 cases per 100,000 people.

In New York and New Jersey, the states hardest hit by the coronavirus, the total reported coronavirus cases come out to 1,751 cases per 100,000 people and 1,560 cases per 100,000 people, respectively, according to HuffPost which first reported on the Navajo Nation’s highest number of COVID-19 cases. 

The Navajo Nation also reported two additional COVID-19-related deaths on Sunday, bringing the total number of fatalities to 100.

“We’ve lost 100 lives to this virus and we offer our condolences to all of the families who are grieving and I want you to know that we’re working around the clock to fight COVID-19,” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said in a statement.

149 new cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths reported pic.twitter.com/fTpGpFABuM

— Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (@NNPrezNez) May 11, 2020

Nez’s administration has donated items, including food, water and supplies, to 4,300 families in an effort to help people stay at home amid the pandemic. 

President Trump announced last week during his visit to Phoenix that the Navajo Nation, which includes land in northern Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, will soon receive more than $600 million to battle COVID-19. 

“The amount of money that’s being sent to Indian country, as we call it, is the largest amount in the history of the U.S., and you deserve it. You went through a lot,” Trump said during his visit.