I don’t know about the Cherokee, or whether there’s a genetic issue with the Nasavajo and Covid, but I do know the Navajo are very social, so distancing is difficult, they have very little water, often driving two hours just to get it, and therefore sanitation is difficult.
On top of that, their diet is often poor, and they have a high rate of diabetes and obesity. It is not a surprise that they have such a high rate of infection.
And one other factor—The Walmart in Gallu;p is supposedly the busiest in america—it is one of the only places to shop for many things on the whole reservation, and a great many people congregate there to shop at the same time when the Government checks come in.
**The Walmart in Gallup***
I was there several years ago. There is also a Walmart in Page and two in Farmington NM. Very busy stores!
The Navajo reservation is so spread out and in a dry country that there are no rivers to dam for reservoirs. I believe all the water rights to the San Juan River are taken with a large number of rights reserved for the Navajo Nation. They use it for irrigation south of Bloomfield NM.
Wells are no good as the ground water is so alkaline it is undrinkable. The well we were on in Farmington was so alkali we also had to haul water for drinking and cooking.
The Cherokee Nation and other Oklahoma tribes have lots of rivers and their well water is good.