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
The NPS closes Parks are closed - "Shutdown" because the government has not passed a budget for them to operated. It is not because the employees don't want to work, there is just no budget to pay them. ... would you work for week without pay? That being said, with this completely different set of circumstances I agree that at least NPS buildings should be closed.
Please, PLEASE shut down the National Park system immediately - it's not forever, just to protect ALL Americans from continuing to spread this virus for which we currently have no cure or treatent. Those of us who live in towns and cities next to national parks and are doing all we can to shelter in place and remain safe and healthy need to be protected - visitors can come visit at another time, but now is not the time! The more we do NOW to stop the spread of this virus, the more quickly we will be able to get back to normal living - please, think of others, not just your bucket trip or family vacation - wouldn't you rather be ALIVE to see another trip down the road?
The President has prohibited foreignera to travel into the USA. Your concern is unwarrante.
The Best Thing about our National Parks is the fact that they have wide open spaces and millions of acres. Reminding visitors to keep distence between people should be sufficient in controling the virus. Public facilities should have sanitizer and increased cleaning. It is not close quarters as it is in restaurants, movie theatres, or any other public places. Closing gift shops and some services is OK, but not the vast land area of our stunning beautiful National Parks.
It's amazing how many people are in Zion. Do any of you care how many lives you could be endangering? Including your own children. Go home for heaven's sake. We need to keep our shuttle bus system shut down to keep the employees safe. You're not helping matters at all. I agree with Moab don't come here.Quit jepordizing lives. And please CDC keep the transportation system in Zion shut down until this is over. Don't Band-aid the situation. Let's keep all the workers and their families safe. Thank you for those of you not coming here and putting innocent people at risk
Wouldn't fresh air in an open space be good for us? As long is there are no crowds in certain areas I think the parks should stay open. Only special events that would gather people should be cancelled. Please don't close any large parks.
Yes omg please close them! Over 3 million visit the parks each year where I live, already here now, despite Corona virus!! Unbelievable what people will do!!! Please close our PARKS!!!!
PLEASE close Phantom Ranch! The dorms and cantina are a petri dish, even worse than a cruise ship!