COVID-19 in Indian Country, 15 April 2020

Governor Steve Bullock of Montana has released a report analyzing infection rates by race. 3.7 of the reported cases in Montana are Native American. In Minnesota, only about 1% of the cases thus far have occurred in the state’s Native American population. Still, the Shooting Star Casino on the White Earth Reservation has opened a drive-thru coronavirus test site. Minnesota does not compile detailed figure by race. Los Angeles County is trying to gather more data on infection rates by race and ethnicity, and that information will help determine the scope of racial disparities involving COVID-19. Inland from Los Angeles, Riverside County reported one death among its Native American population.

There is more news on the hard-hit Navajo Nation, which has the highest rate of infection per capita outside of New York and New Jersey. COVID-19 has struck Native Americans in Arizona disproportionately. Now limited mobile coronavirus testing is available on the Navajo population, which has a population of 174,000 people. One quarter of the cases to emerge in neighboring New Mexico struck the state’s Native American population.

Stay safe, everyone.

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