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."
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Comments
Will the park service make current updates to park closures as soon as possible so the public can cancel travel plans?
Would love to know. We have a trip planned and can't get any info! If you find out, please post!
I have plans to travel to Zion and Bryce Canyon starting next Sunday and would love to know updates as well....
will national pars and monuments be closed
Please do not close
Please stay open so we can get away from the frenzy. I just want to drive through death valley and not be around panicked people.
Im currently traveling in to as many national parks as I can. Hit Arches, Canyonlands, and Mesa Verde over the last week. Very little contact with people. Vistor centers are closed and parks have hand sanitizer all over. People walk past each other on hikes and that is about the extent of contact. Stay in in a tent or the vehicle so no contact tbere either. So please keep the parts open and let people enjoy our biggest treasures.
The parks really should be closed as soon as possible. Events are being cancelled all over the country to prevent the spread of corona virus. The National Parks should take the lead and close immediately. They close for government shutdowns, why would they not close to protect the communities that surround them?
That is ridiculous, the parks are essential to allow us to clear our souls and minds from this fear induced mayheim that is ravaging our country. DON'T CLOSE! Wash you hands with soap we will all be fine.
it's "Mayhem" in USA, Mayheim only happens in Germany
I agree stay home and hide in your house. closing the parks is not cool!
So, by using your train of thought, we should close down all schools, movie theaters, grocery stores, malls, gas stations, etc -- anything that would have more than a small gathering of people. Campers camp to get AWAY from people, they are not harming anyone. And no, they do not close for government shutdowns - they have less staff.
No they shouldn't. It should be decided by the individual locations and what kind of outbreak they are having. Parks in Washington state should probably start considering it in certain areas were the outbreaks are high, that's it. There are plenty of places that are remote parks that are visited by smart educated campers and backpackers that will not be touched by this virus. Also, closing the parks means people don't get paid. I don't think making people homeless is the answer to controlling the coronavirus.
I really don't hope that we will close "nature" because of that. Events and concerts in closed spaces - I do understand... but some parks have issues being financed as is... the last thig I want for them is to close "nature" for people that are not even in the risk group...
Agreed. All state and national parks should close till end of April at least.
I would question the need to close the campgrounds at parks. They close for funding issues, not to "Take the lead". What benefit would be seen to further disrupt life?
No need to. It's a nature park not an amusement park
national parks are where people go to be outdoors. Its not a museum. Close down some aspects that gather people together such as a film in an amphitheater, sure. Tour busses, sure But for the most part people are climbing, fishing, hiking or driving around sightseeing in their own cars. It’s the exact opposite of a high risk situation
What about parks like mammoth cave?
Close the post offices not the parks. One mail carrier can infect 1000 customers in one day out on the route. How many people are ordering online? How many mail carrier routes are there invthe U.S.?
They shouldn't close the park because there is a very low contagion risk for COVID-19. Shutting down the parks is just going to further the current hemmorghing of money that all of the closures are going through. If you feel that you are high risk, don't visit the parks. The rest of us will go on living our lives because we refuse to be controlled by media hype and public panic.
Because this entire thing is an absolute overreaction and its people like you that will destroy our enconomy this year.
A lot of the national parks are in wide open spaces and is safer to be there than anywhere else, closing the parks is not a good idea
Safer? For whom? Not for park employees. There are plenty of unstaffed state parks. Stay home and visit one of your local state parks.
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.
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!!!!
No -- they really shouldn't be! And neither should all of the other stuff that is being shut down in panic. Flu is worse than Coranavirus, and we don't run around shutting the whole country down every year for flu season!
The fear and panic gripping the world over this relatively mild virus (read your facts if you disagree with the word "mild") is causing significantly more harm than the virus itself.
Let's see if you still feel the flu is worse than COVID-19 a month from now when the numbers will be through the roof
In response to the flu comment- there is a vaccine for flu. Coronavirus has no vaccine, yet. But if we all do our part in social distancing the medical experts can buy time to test potential cures. Everyday I go to work I have my temperature taken and have to put on my PPE ( personal protection equipment) which I wear for nearly 12 hours a day. We have moved patients around so we can cohort them on certain floors. Some patients come in symptomatic and are NP swabbed. They remain in isolation until the cultures come back negative or positive. We treat everyone as if they are positive until the final result is confirmed. We scramble for medical supplies, gowns, ventilators, test kits. We are on the frontline risking our lives. Risking the lives of our families. We don't get paid anymore. We are mandated to work overtime. We have not been approved to take any paid time off. All so people can have their dream trip. Please let's take this seriously!! The lethality of this virus-the capability of this virus to cause real harm with morbidity and mortality is so much more severe than any swine flu or H1N1, which were also pandemics. But I have watched people physically suffer. We have a societal responsiblity to take care of the vulnerable. Please encourage the parks to close.
They close other times because of lack of funda, that's why.
they should remain open now because seriously... how is being outside in nature far from other people (do you hang in large groups in national forests? No.) possibly bad for ones health and contributing to the spread of any illness. On the contrary, it prevents it.
Please don't shut down parks unless the need arises, try to control the influx of potential hazards and persons from the areas most affected.
The tourist season will begin soon. Seasonal from around the world will be starting jods soon.What precautions and screeningwill NPS be providing to prevent a pandemic within our parks??
The President has prohibited foreignera to travel into the USA. Your concern is unwarrante.
Please do not close the parks. this is getting ridiculous. If people are concerned, just don't go...
Hi I am a employee without the option of to simply not go. No offense but for my health's sake and all of us who live here year round we would prefer you not come. My God we're talking about like 2 weeks. Are your travel plans more important than our safety?
Dear Bacon, a park employee
We canceled our plans to visit Grand Canyon at the end of March. --Because it's just not an outdoor park: There are restaurants, hotels, shops, cafeterias, and lots of employees to consider. I hope you all can have some quiet time and that everyone stays healthy!
closing The National parks would be devistaing especially for families with terminally ill family members with cancer who have been planning for their trip of a lifetime, and may be their last chance to go
Consider park employees and communities surrounding parks. There are certainly immune deficienct individuals amoung that demographic. Visitor's wishes do no override the safety of others.
Hopefully those can see it in all its glory frim another point of view. Not like what we see from here on earth. I think all parks should close now for the good of others and concern for your fellow man until we know more and ALL VISITORS can rest assured of their safe health while traveling.
Perhaps you're wanting that to be their last visit anywhere for someone who's immunocompromised.
I agree. My husband died of cancer 4 months ago and I'm so thankful for the time we spent in catalochee in the North Carolina. Families like this are trying desperately to make beautiful memories and I dont think social distancing is as hard in parks. Maybe limiting visitor numbers?
It is extremely disappointing and frustrating that the NPS has not restricted ANY travel of federal employees, even non-essential travel during the coronavirus outbreak to known outbreak areas. It is irresponsible to not do so. The Federal Govenment could be looking at many compensation claims for sickness on the job (or worse). Do the right thing for employees, not more political posturing.
Can't argue much with you, Concerned Citizen, but I do say that the extremely low travel budgets actully net out to virtually the same thing.
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 !
I feel the same way! Been planning this for a year! Taking precautions and using common sense is the key!
I agree. My child will be out of the house soon, this will be our last trip together.
I am also going to be there for my trip of a lifetime. I am hoping the Parks will still be open the first week of april.
I'm planning a trip in April too, to Mt. Rainier! its a huge deal for me but closing the parks would be devastating to everyones mental health as well D:
Thhnk about the staff who cannot stay home if it is open. Many have high risk family members at home..... Your trip of a lifetime isn't as important as someones life.
I agree, these people need to stop thinking about themselves and think about the employees. no one cares about your trip
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