With the large international visitation that the National Park System receives, it's only natural to wonder how the National Park Service is guarding against visitors who might be infected with Coronavirus.
Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Death Valley are among the park units that attract large numbers of international visitors.
"While there have been no identified cases of Coronavirus in any national park, the NPS Office of Public Health and the U.S. Public Health Service officers assigned to the National Park Service are closely monitoring the situation and keeping staff informed, relying on the most updated data and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," Alexandra Picavet, the acting chief spokesperson for the Park Service, said Tuesday.
"Parks are informed to follow CDC guidance regarding preventative actions to help prevent the spread of viruses, particularly during flu and respiratory disease season."
Comments
Close the visitor centers down but please keep the parks open.
Keep the parks open. This thing is so overhyped. Not as bad as regular flu.
I'm still going somewhere. They would have to close the roads to keep me from being outdoors.
Perhaps you're wanting that to be their last visit anywhere for someone who's immunocompromised.
I agree with Jennifer, please do not close!!! "I have planned a trip of a lifetime and I am hoping and praying that the national parks do not close. If you are concerned, then please by all means stay home. I have precations already set in place. I have bought gloves and wipes and plan on not touching anything in the parks with my hands. This does not mean that I will not be able to still enjoy the beauty of nature. This is a bucket list trip for me and I am hoping that I will still be able to go in April !"
Hello,
Please don't shutdown the parks. Here something you need to know about coronavirus. It is mostly harmless to most people. It primarily attacks and kills elderly people who have medical issues. Elderly people have aged bodies and weakened immune systems. Coronavirus attacks and kills those who are like this, not really anyone else. It is harmless to anyone else. If you are young and strong, you are safe. You may get infected but you will survive. You can be infected and pass it to others, but they will survive as well. The elderly, infirm and medically troubled are most likely to get killed. If you are this you are in grave danger, but not much anyone else. A vaccine will come, but not soon. Closing parks will throw many out of work and ruin dreams of vacation, this is all that will be done. The panic of it is overblown. Its panic is more devastating than the disease itself. Please keep the parks open. Business and tourism for millions depends on parks being open. If society gives into panic, it will close the parks. This will be ruinous to many and compound the overall catastrophe to society it is. God bless. May the vaccine come. This crisis will be done.
To our Co-op Community:
As the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread throughout the communities where we all live and work, we have consistently looked for ways to help protect the health and safety of our employees and customers. Since our founding, REI has been about doing the right thing for our community.
After a great deal of careful consideration, we are temporarily closing our 162 retail stores nationwide starting tomorrow, March 16, until March 27. I believe that is the right thing for our community. In fact, I believe it is our duty--to do all we can to help keep one another safe in this unprecedented moment.
That also means all employees from these stores will be paid during this temporary closure. And, even with our stores closed, we will be working hard to do everything we can to continue to serve our customers. All orders through REI.com will get free shipping while our stores are closed. Customers who have questions about gear and local outdoor activities that they'd normally ask in our stores can get answers through our digital community, REI Conversations. Co-op Journal will feature articles that help people find ways to get outside even during these challenging times.
We've always been deliberate and transparent when making significant decisions about our business. This is a difficult decision for any business, and I do not make it lightly. Our decisions are grounded in the belief that there are more important things than business right now--we owe that to one another.
Know that we will continue to work closely with our teams and public health officials throughout the country to understand how to best serve your needs, and serve our customers as soon as local conditions allow. We'll continue to share information with our members and employees as we move forward together into a future that's hard to predict.
In the meantime, thank you for your understanding, your patience and, most of all, for being a part of this incredible community. The outdoors remains a vital part of all our lives, especially in moments like this.
Be well and take care of one another.
My best,
Eric Artz
President & CEO, REI Co-op
Will the parks and park concessions going to pay employees if they ae displaced like many other hotels and resorts have? Will housing remain open,or will we be forced out?