Navajo Nation reports 17 new COVID-19 cases, 4 more deaths

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Korene Atene, a certified nursing assistant with the Monument Valley Health Center, gets information from people lined up to get tested for COVID-19 outside of the center in Oljato-Monument Valley, San Juan County, on Thursday, April 16, 2020. The Navajo Nation had one of the highest per capita COVID-19 infection rates in the country. (Kristin Murphy/The Deseret News via AP)

Navajo Nation health officials have reported 17 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and four additional deaths.

That brings the total number of people infected to 9,486 and the known death toll to 484 as of Tuesday.

Navajo Department of Health officials said 89,399 people have been tested for the coronavirus and 6,987 have recovered.

The Navajo Nation lifted its stay-at-home order last Sunday, but is encouraging residents to leave their homes only for emergencies or essential activities.

Much of the Navajo Nation has been closed since March as the coronavirus swept through the reservation that extends into New Mexico, Utah and Arizona.

The majority of people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 recover. For some people it causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

But for others who contract the virus, especially those who are older or have underlying health conditions, it can cause more severe illness and death.

Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.