• As the HCOC Public Information Officer’s staff has reached about to our elders, in which they offered the cultural teaching that livestock (including sheep) can provide protection for the family camp from the spirits of Nay’ye (the spirit of sickness).
• Currently, the CDC does not have evidence that companion animal, including pets, livestock, or wildlife, can spread COVID-19 or that the animals might be a source of infection in the United States.
• However, all animals can carry germs that can make people sick, it’s always a good idea to practice health habits around pets and other animals by:
• Continue to practice good hygiene, by washing your hands after handling animals, their food, waste, or supplies.
• Limit contact with pets, animals, and livestock. You should restrict contact with pets, livestock, or wildlife if you or family member is sick with COVID-19.
• Have another family member care for your livestock while you are sick.
• Avoid petting, snuggling, being licked, and sharing food with pets.
• Wear a facemask and wash hands before and after you interact with you pets and livestock.

Yes this is true. In Diné Culture many of the animals, domesticated or not, carry a song, prayer and medicine of protection and healing for our people.

• As Navajo people are now currently living in modern way of life maybe result in fragmentation of cultural and traditional practices and participation in our traditional ceremonies
• We all need to be open minded and patient with one another and encourage the practice of traditional Diné spirituality through role modeling. We must be willing to teach and to be willing to learn.
• The HCOC Public Information Officer staff contacted Diné Hataałii Association (DHA) in which they reassured the HCOC that the Regional Board of Directors and local medicine people have discussed COVID-19. Our Diné medicine people have sponsored and in most cases leading the ceremonies and making offerings to sacred sites at their own discretion along their apprentice(s) and families.

In the past the Navajo Nation has encouraged all spiritual entities to come together to be one in prayer for the wellness of on the beginning of each season within the communities across the nation were encouraged to continue with this prayer day activities.

• Shaking hands and greeting one another through Ké and kinship is powerful and practiced for many generations. We all have the responsibility to must educate our elders, medicine and spiritual people on COVID-19 and how to prevent it from spreading. Social Distancing is a method to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to create a shield to protect and to preserve our culture.