Bad weather forcing Grand Canyon National Park visitors inside raised fears from some employees about catching coronavirus/Rebecca Latson file
Editor's note: This updates with news that the Washington Monument will close to the public on Saturday.
Concern over the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 on Friday led to cancellation of the annual maple sugar festival at Indiana Dunes National Park, the planned closing of the Washington Monument on Saturday, and worry for park employees who must interact with visitors in the National Park System.
Though there was no announcement from the National Park Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., about additional closings, it was possible that facilities such as national seashore lighthouses, where visitors can be packed close together as they climb and descend, and possibly tours of Mammoth Cave and Carlsband, also would be shut down in the days ahead. Also uncertain was how crowds in lodges, restaurants, and cafeterias in the parks would be managed. Though the peak summer season is weeks off, spring break typically brings large crowds to parks such as Zion and Grand Canyon.
On a closed-to-the-public Facebook page used by Park Service employees, the overall sentiment Friday seemed to be frustration and anger that Park Service leadership had issued no guidance to the public or employees. Many of those who commented mentioned that their park operations were in violation of state guidelines restricting group gatherings
Whether the decision to cancel the Maple Sugar Time Festival, and to shutter the Washington Monument, would spur similar moves elsewhere in the park system was unknown. In Washington, National Park Service Deputy Director David Vela, the de facto director of the agency, was busy dealing with the situation and unavailable to discuss how the Park Service was responding to the sweeping epidemic.
At Delaware North Parks and Resorts, which operates in or near Grand Canyon National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, Olympic National Park, and Shenandoah National Park, spokesman Glen White said the concessionaire was working closely with the Park Service on the matter.
"We are taking appropriate measures to help ensure guest and employee safety, which is our highest priority," he said in an email. "At the restaurants and lodging that we operate in the parks, we have taken actions to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus based on the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including: Expanding sanitizing protocols and bolstering cleaning services throughout our operations; placing hand sanitizer stations at locations for use by guests and employees; posting notifications for our employees on the importance of handwashing; and advising associates who feel sick to remain at home."
Calls to the three other major park concessionaires -- Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Aramark, and Forever Resorts -- were not immediatley returned Friday afternoon.
National Park Service officials, who were said to be in close communications with concessionaires and other park partners, could not immediately say Friday evening whether the concessionaires would refund lodgings reservations canceled at the last minute by visitors increasingly concerned about falling ill in the parks.
At Indiana Dunes in Indiana, staff issued a release stating that, "(T)o protect public health and slow the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, the National Park Service is cancelling this weekend’s Maple Sugar Time Festival at Indiana Dunes National Park’s Chellberg Farm. The park’s Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education has also been closed and all ranger-led public and school programs are cancelled until at least March 23."
"These actions have been taken based on the best available medical advice to limit gatherings of large numbers of people and to promote social distancing," the statement continued. "At this time, the park’s trails and beaches remain open to the public."
In a statement circulating around the park system, the agency said it was "actively monitoring developments related to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus and is consulting with relevant federal, state and local authorities, including the CDC, to get the most up to date information needed to protect the health of our visitors, volunteers and employees."
But Park Service employees and volunteers who come face-to-face with visitors in crowded parks were voicing concerns over their safety.
"Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosted 12.5 million visitors last year from all over the world. There are four visitor centers that each have about 8,500 people each day come through. If this is not a high risk for the virus, I don't know what is," Andy W said in a comment on the Traveler. "I have served the park as a volunteer for five years and I for one will not venture into a park visitor center until the danger has passed."
Another reader, Kathy, wrote that, "I work in a park with cultural resources. People, staff and visitors, are shoulder to shoulder in confined spaces. No changes to historic building tours?"
Andrew S., who didn't indicate which park he works at, said visiting the parks should be discouraged, "especially since visitors don't always practice basic hygiene, even prior to COVID. And now, our concessioner seems to be running low on soap and towels. Even though I've always been meticulous about hygiene doesn't mean that those around me including fellow NPS and visitors will. And there have instances in the past where people have invaded my personal zone, coming definitely closer than the recommended six foot blast radius. Just saying."
Janie West, who indicated she works at Grand Canyon National Park, responded to those who argued that national parks should stay open during the epidemic. She wrote that, "Obviously you are not up here working in close contact and collecting their money, dishes, linens and putting yourself at risk. We have thousands coming through the gates and with bad weather everyone is inside. We were able to make it through a government shutdown for weeks but due to greed we can't take a couple weeks to protect our Grand Canyon community and staff?"
The bulk of the comments posted on the Traveler, though, came from readers who wanted the parks to stay open.
"I agree with keeping the parks open," wrote Victoria in a comment that mirrored many others. "What better way to stay healthy and positive than being out in the fresh air and getting exercise? It keeps up the endorphins. Proven to be good for your health, mentally and physically."
"Leave them open!!! This is a rare opportunity for American Families to get out in the fresh air with their families, visit our beautiful treasured national parks and avoid foreign traveler competition," wrote Jojo Willey. "Schools are now closed and flights are cheap. I was thinking of renting a couple of RVs and taking the whole family. This is the best time for well Americans to enjoy these resources!"
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Comments
Let's see...that's about how many temerature checks per day? Thousands? Are you volunteering? Silly idea.
Yosemite national Park is not run by Delaware North for at least 3 years. Aramark is their concessionaire now.
Parks are "run" by the Park Service. Stores and lodges are run by concessionaires.
I suggest all the people that want these places kept open during this time should immediately contact volunteer coordinators and take on the responsibility/privilege of working at these wonderful places during a virus outbreak.
I couldn't agree with you more hopefully someone will wake up and pay attention let them drive their own cars in and stop the other transportation stop putting these people's lives at risk and their health
I cant believe most of these comments, so greedy and selfish, first of all the reason you are off from school and work is not for you to go on vacation its to stop the potential spread of this virus. So if they decide to close, deal with it! We want everyone healthy, there is more people in this world besides yourself.
Booked 2 cheap vacations when people freaked out.
Surely there could be some type of in between to closing all the parks and not doing anything , lots of times parks operate on national holidays with limited staff or vicitors centers closed, buildings aside from the hotels could be closed. I an desperately hoping this doesn't happen i don't want to be inconsiderate to workers who of course shouldn't be forced in confined spaces with hundreds of people or at all but the most important part of the parks are the nature. people spend years on waiting lists to have experiences in a lot of the parks. lots of people plan trips to the grand canyon and other parks for years, even lifetimes. There is absolutely a way to enjoy the park without putting people at risk, i also think it's worth considering that our parks budget has been slashed during this presidency and I would imagine the parks need their revenue
I can empathize with closing restaurants and such, but at least leave the parks as a whole open for people to enjoy. We are still planning on traveling to Zion and the Grand Canyon. And why close for 2 weeks? This virus will take months to contain so if you are going to be closed then be closed for two months or more if you are that concerned. We have to live our lives and practice basic hygiene; You are unrealistic to think you can avoid close contact with other people. Will you not go get food, go to the doctor, leave the house, etc. then? I don't think so. As someone else mentioned, leave at least the parks open so those of us who want to live our lives can enjoy the open air and beauty of this country.
You being able to "live your life" might be putting someone else's life at risk. Please conssider the health of the staff that are in close contact with thousands of international visitors per day. They deserve to be healthy too.
The parks have become outrageously busy since other attractions have closed. Not all of the parks are going to be as "open air" as you would think. There are also plenty of travellers from all over the globe visiting the national parks.
Keeping the Parks open encourages people to keep traveling, which they shouldn't be - everyone needs to go home and hunker down.
It also puts park staff and our vulnerable elderly volunteers at risk.
You all can go to BLM or Forest Service land or local parks and get your "fresh air" where there are generally no visitors centers or contact stations.
PLEASE remain open. We MUST have a place to visit in the outdoors This is crucial to our mental and physical health!!!!!!
Please keep the parks open! I would absolutely shut down lodging and even visitor centers im order to keep people safe. However, I would allow access to trials, ranger stations, and campgrounds. We need to be outside and breathing fresh air! Please stay open!
I am a park enployee In Yellowstone I'm in Michigan right now surrounded by the virus I know that if I go work in Yellowstone I will get the virus my girlfriend will get the virus and I know she won't make it through but then if we don't go we possibly lose our jobs in the most beautiful place I've ever been. please for gods sake close the parks down so many people are going to get infected because of ignorance
The National Parks need to close, the NPS should be in support of closing to taking preventative measures to stop the spread of this virus. Not only does it expose the emplyoees of the parks, but, it exposes the visitors and the communities that the parks are located in. It's not fair to the people who live in these communities to have a tourist magnet with people from all over the nation and international travelers as well. In states that are under a state of Emergency attractions like National Parks must close. It angers me that the NPS is remaining open. During a government shut down the parks can close, but during a pandemic where their employees/visitors health are at risk they stay open?
My husband and I are both disabled, we are planning to leave next week on a trip covering 14 states. We have planned this trip for over a year. We are counting on staying at and visiting our national parks.
I was planning on visiting Germany and Austria in a month, a trip I too have planned for, for a year. But I am not now. Trips have to be cancelled and replained. Its not fair to park staff to keep parks open when they too can get sick or die.
Please stay home. I'm sorry your plans have to be canceled but there might be hundreds of thousands of people who might die. This is going to be worse than anything anyone has lived through in any of our lifetimes. Stay home, live to go next year.
One big concern I have is the risk to fee collectors at the parks. They are excanging items back and forth everyday (it pens, clipboards, cash, and credit cards,) with thousands of visitors everyday.
Not all National parks are outdoors. My son works at a park where visitors are inside in various museums at the park. They also have many school groups each day. These groups have lunch in a large room with tables that have to be cleaned by the staff. Since these are group gatherings in close quarters, I think the temporary closure would be advisable at this time.
Please stay open but close all touristy stuff - visitor centers, concessionaires, museums, anything that packs people in close. If parks close, local people NEEDING to get out of the house (people are gonna have a really hard time staying in home for several weeks) but go somewhere without crowds will only be funneled in NF & BLM lands. Close the stuff which is a danger, but not stuff that doesn't.
There are 419 National Parks in multiple categories. But ALL are National Parks. Look it up: nationalparks.org or NPS.gov. Some parks are single buildings, and many have buildings that lead to visitors and staff in close contact. Closing such places should be considered seriously.
Most large parks are in rural places that are far from hospitals. Emergency services personnel such as police and paramedics are severely understaffed. You CANNOT maintain social distancing outdoors when there are several hundred people crowding into a lookout point and several thousand pouring through the gates every day. Think about where you would want to be if you got sick--at home or far away? And then think about all the OTHER PEOPLE you are possibly endangering. It's not about you, it's about the vulnerable people you could infect! Close the parks before it's too late!!!
Unfortunately it is clear from most of the comments that "to hell with the other guy, it is all about me". Those advocating for keeping the parks open clearly do not care about the park staff and volunteers who have have to interact with the general public or clean up after them. People say close the places where crowds gather, having been Carlsbad NP it it clearly a place where crowds gather. For some parks, most notably Zion, the only transportation within the park is on shuttle buses. How does one practice social distancing on a bus? Have you tried hiking parks like Badlands, Zion, Glacier or any of the cave parks without touching the handrails? Stop being so selfish, all areas where groups gather should be treated equally and we should show as much concern for the park staff and volunteers as we do for our wishes.
DO NOT close the parks! The fresh air is exactly what everyone needs! Our family is looking so forward to being outside for spring break & enjoying the beauty of the parks. We thank you in advance for not buying into all the media hype & staying true to listening to the CDC.
Please think about other people who might get sick and die, and not your selfish plans for a vacation that can be rescheduled at a safer time. The parks are not as wide open and uncrowded as you think they are.
If there is a way to continue to allow private, small raft trips to continue on the grand canyon, please consider this. We have been waiting for years and once on the river after being checked by the NPS, we don't have any contact with people for 21 days! The ID check doesn't even have to be face to face.
And I suppose it one of you comes down with a bad case of coronavirus you expect "the government" to evacuate you for free.
The employees that run the shops and lodges live in dormitories two to a room. If they get sick it will spread like wildfire and where will they quarantine?
Close restaurants, hotels, visitor centers, gift shops and concessions. Only allow camping and day visiting. Require online reservations and have campground and entrance employees wear masks and gloves.
I agree that the great outdoors is a good place to get fresh air. Consider the choice I have to make: Living in Washington state, to get to a tour we booked to Yosemite, I have to travel through 2 international airports, twice (going & returning), board a travel tour bus with mostly over 60 yo people ( I myself am 69), spend 2 nights at a national park lodge, eat at thier restaurants and return by same route. I bought travel insurance which only pays if I get sick or the park closes.
Some parks should close For 2 weeks Some facilities should close. Why the Statue is Libery hasn't closed is stunning. Have you ever been in that place. Or Independence Hall.
What we are seeing is dysfunction brought about by paranoid and non professional politicals all over the government who don't want to run afoul of their boss at 1600 Penn Avenue.
NPS leadership looks inept at best and uncaring at worst! But we'll agree this isn't the same agency it was even 5 years ago. It is now totally under control by the Department of Interior.
What would George Hartzog do (WWGHD)?
I hope the parks take the appropriate measures to protect the employees and visitors. If that means shutting down all the buildings and facilities where there is close human contact for a couple of weeks, then so be it. Human health and safety should be number one. People should not be using all these closings as vacation and possibly spreading this virus. It is meant to stay HOME.
The parks should cancel any events with large gatherings and check body temperatures as someone mentioned here for anyone who enters visitor centers. I am planning to visit many parks in the next few weeks and don't intend to go inside for anything unless I need to use the bathroom. The beauty of the parks is in its topography. Let us roam outside, breathe some clean air and escape the madness that is gripping our communities.
How about we leave the parks open and reduce contact by closing services and pay stations. This way, folks can enjoy driving and hiking in the parks AND employees can remain safe.
Many lives are at risk. Keeping the parks open for as long as possiable will lead to more and more Staff and visitors becoming infected. The goverment needs to close the sites and the people need to stay home. Don't spread the virus. Care for yourselves and others and you will save lives.
People are idiots.
Coronavirus has killed 5000 worldwide.
The flu killed 20,000 just in the US alone in the past year.
...noone bats an eye.
Just stop with the "we are all gonna die" gloom and doom bs.
Amen
I would suggest you do a little reading and educate yourself. For example take a look at the Spanish Flu and see the difference between St. Louis and Philadelphia's response to the action that was taken in each city by their mayors at the time. It's amazing that taking a little action by each person can make a tremendous difference. This is going to be something that none of us in this world has ever seen in our lifetimes. How do you feel about 20% of everyone you know who's over 70 years old dying in the next few months?
I applied this year for the Artist In Residence program at Isle Royale National Park, a place I have been exploring for over 50 years. To be selected would be an honor and a great way to pay back this wonderous place for all the joy it has given me over the years. I have wanted to apply for many years but it took till now to believe My art(astro and birds in flight photography) was up to the standards that would do justice to Isle Royale. The selectees are supposed to be notified around this time. I believe the parks should be closed until this pandemic is under control, even a remote place such as Isle Royale. Hopefully we are all in this togehter but that remains to be seen.
The whole point is for people to stay home, away from each other! Close the parks now!
Simple Solution leave the Open Spaces and campsites open you're more than 6 feet apart close the visitor centers and places where people are in close contact could still enjoy the parks and get away from the crowds there is usually way too many people there anyway
Obviously, dozens of people reading The Traveler are ignorant when it comes to math. That's why we have quarantines, good people--to stop the ignorant from killing us all. Don't you just love it when a plane goes down and Boeing says: "But it was only one plane--and just 200 people." Unfortunately for Boeing, when the second plane went down, that was the beginning of the end for Boeing.
Planes are going down, good people. That is the Bottom Line. If you're not on them it's easy to say: "What, me worry?" and play Alfred E. Newman to your heart's content. "The little ole virus didn't get little ole me!" It got little ole you instead!"
Seriously, I cannot remember when The Traveler's readers sounded more like grade-school dropouts, that is, those of you saying not to worry. The math is still on MY side. In life, we all accept acceptable risks. But this risk is flat out unacceptable. Why? Because we can prevent a good numbers of these deaths if we agree to cooperate. Think of it as buckling up your seatbelt. Now, buckle up and shut up. This is still going to be one hell of a ride.
Perfect, sums it up completely
CLOSE the PARKS!! You can't keep a safe distance in the BR line or Visitor Centers! BR are fithy anyway because people are gross! This is serious people,let's respond appropriately!
They should obviously close. I work in the schools, and those should be shuttered as well. This is a pandemic people, not a vacation opportunitiy. Your kids are being sent home from school so they don't spread the virus to the vulnerable. Some kids don't even show signs. Your selfishness will get people killed.
doesn't the parks transportation employees lives matter?
I understand the concern and agree that the welcome centers, lodging and dining facilities should probably be closed. I do not however agree that closing the entirety of the parks is necessary. Leave the trails and activities that do not crowd large numbers of people in one area open.
Zion national Park I hope you will give your shuttle bus employees the same consideration as the rest of the employees are getting you need to stop running the transportation system for a few weeks and till we know more about what is going on people's health and lives are at risk. Talk about a crowded situation in those buses probably a hundred people or so in that small of an area and the news is telling you to avoid crowds of 20 people or more please consider doing something now.
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