Covid-19 In The National Parks: Some Increasing Access, Some Cutting Back
As the coronavirus pandemic ebbs and flows across the country, so does the status of access in the National Park System.
Coronavirus
National Park Gateways Doing Big Business During Current Pandemic
An analysis of credit card data shows that while a pandemic might be sweeping the country, national parks are seen as safe havens, and their surrounding lodging and restaurant businesses are, by and large, benefiting handsomely.
UPDATE 2 | Acting National Park Service Director Says Lack Of Rangers Shouldn't Restrict Park Access
A shortage of rangers due to the coronavirus pandemic should not be an excuse for limiting access in the National Park System, the National Park Service's latest acting director has told the agency's regional directors.
Coping With Coronavirus At Crater Lake
This year's coronavirus pandemic has challenged the National Park Service in myriad ways, forcing some managers to limit visitation through reservations, while most if not all have had to learn how to manage visitors and resources with staff limitations. At Crater Lake National Park, it has meant educating visitors that they can't turn the woods into bathrooms and that paddle boarding is not allowed on big blue.
UPDATE | Nearly 1,500 Yellowstone National Park Employees Tested For Covid-19, No Positives
Since Yellowstone National Park reopened in mid-May, nearly 1,500 park and concession workers have been tested for Covid-19 as part of an asymptomatic surveillance program without a positive result returned, according to park staff.
Vacation Travel To Virgin Islands National Park Halted By Stay At Home Order
A flareup of Covid-19 in the U.S. Virgin Islands has prompted the territory's governor to ban leisure travel for 30 days, an order likely to throw a wrench into plans to visit Virgin Islands National Park in the coming weeks.
Social Distancing Proving Difficult On Some Glacier National Park Trails
If you're planning a trip to Glacier National Park in the weeks ahead, you might want to pack some face masks, as there are some trails in the park where social distancing is proving difficult, according to park staff.
Covid-19 Shutters Buck Island Reef National Monument Mooring Area
Boat captains hoping to anchor at Buck Island Reef National Monument in the Caribbean will have to seek out some other anchorage for the time being due to the spread of Covid-19 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Rising Coronavirus Cases Aren't Keeping All Tourists From National Parks
Concerns about catching Covid-19 during cross-country travel don't seem to have left national parks to the locals. While overall visitation to many parks is lower than usual for this time of year, statistics provided to the U.S. Travel Association show many people are traveling hundreds of miles across state lines to visit the parks.
UPDATE | Big Bend Closes Down After Covid-19 Case Detected Inside Park
Knowing that the nearest hospital was 100 miles away, and that it has just 25 beds and four ventilators, made it relatively easy for Big Bend National Park Superintendent Bob Krumenaker to decide to close his park to the public Thursday after one of his employees was diagnosed with Covid-19.
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