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National Parks Remain Open During Coronavirus Epidemic

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Published Date

March 12, 2020
Coronavirus image/CDC,Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS

Coronavirus image/CDC,Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS

National parks and their facilities remain open during the coronavirus epidemic in the United States while National Park Service officials await further guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agency staff said Thursday.

"To help guide the National Park Service operational response to the novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19), the NPS Office of Public Health and the U.S. Public Health Service officers assigned to the NPS are closely monitoring the situation and keeping staff informed," Park Service acting chief spokesperson Stephanie Roulett told the Traveler in an email. "They are relying on the most updated data and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), the Office of Personnel and Management (OPM), state and local public health authorities, and coordinating with the DOI Office of Emergency Management.

"The national parks are open and facilities are maintaining continuity of operations," she added. "The NPS is focused on ensuring employees, their families, volunteers, and visitors are safe by following the most current guidance from the CDC, OPM, OEM, and other federal, state, and local health authorities."

The Park Service has been working to keep the public up-to-date on the situation via its public health website.

Representatives for Xanterra Parks & Resorts and Delaware North, two of the largest concessionaires in the National Park System with operations in places such as Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Sequoia, and Shenandoah national parks, did not immediately reply Thursday to emailed requests for how they were approaching the epidemic in their park lodges and restaurants.

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Comments

Submitted by Ladybug on March 15, 2020 - 11:00am.

Exactly. Thank you. Refreshing to see some common sense still prevails. Wash your hands. Fresh air & nature is healthy for everyone!


Submitted by Anonymous on March 15, 2020 - 11:40am.

Keeping large outdoor venues open sounds okay, but volunteers in some visitor centers do not have the floor space to maintain a six foot clear zone unless we are allowed to remain behind a counter or barricad.  We constantly have guests coming up to us from all sides, and children trying to hold on to us.


Submitted by Hilton Mccracken on March 15, 2020 - 12:42pm.

On the contrary we have the best leadership at the top in our President. 

He is working extremely hard to keep everyone safe!


Submitted by Hilton Mccracken on March 15, 2020 - 12:47pm.

I say leave the state and national parks open. Sunshine and fresh air are the best remodies. Just keep your distance from others. Shouldn't be hard to do in big parks!


Submitted by Mary Wilson on March 15, 2020 - 1:17pm.

Unless you work in a cave - Carlsbad Caverns, Mammoth, Jewel, Wind.  Shut down these petri dishes now and stop risking the health and well being of rangers so others can have their freakin' vacations!


Submitted by rumpelstiltskin on March 15, 2020 - 1:28pm.

Okay, now it's getting ridiculous.


Submitted by Hezu on March 15, 2020 - 2:01pm.

Please leave the parks open! The fresh air is good for people and has proven health benefits! 


Submitted by Kathy on March 15, 2020 - 2:14pm.

Yes, leave parks open. people should get outside and there are plenty who will stay home.  Please, let those who are willing to go. Maybe limit crowds or cap off daily admitting but really people will figure it out. We cant stay in forever


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