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The White Mountain Apache Tribe reported no new confirmed COVID-19 infections on Friday, continuing their downward trend of cases since early August.

The tribal nation reached 2,414 identified cases of the coronavirus and 39 deaths due to the virus as of Thursday, according to officials. One death reported between Thursday and Friday was their first death since Aug. 25, bringing the total from 39 to 40.

Friday was the fourth time in recent weeks without any new confirmed cases, following Aug. 27, Sept. 3 and Sept. 5. The tribe makes daily updates to their COVID-19 statistics on the White Mountain Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center Facebook page.

“We are ONE WMAT. We are stronger together. We’ll get through this together,” tribal officials said in a statement on Friday. 

An estimated 15,515 people live on tribal lands, which spans 2,600 square miles in east-central Arizona in Navajo, Gila and Apache counties. 

The tribe was initially hard-hit by the virus, surpassing both New York and the Navajo Nation for the highest rate of infection per capita in the country in June, the pandemic exacerbated by shortages of drinking water. Numbers began declining mid-August and the tribe initiated a phased reopening.

By Friday, they had administered more than 10,000 tests. Over 2,300 people had recovered from the infection and there were only 17 active cases, according to the update.

“Remember to keep practicing all precautionary measures: hand hygiene, wearing a mask, wiping down commonly used surfaces and social distancing,” the statement concluded.

The Navajo Nation also reported its first day of no new confirmed COVID-19 infections on Tuesday. The Nation had 18 new cases and three more deaths due to the virus on Thursday, bringing the total caseload to 9,933 and death toll to 530, according to officials.

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or on Twitter @vv1lder.

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