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.
Comments
Seems to me that hiking and camping woulkd be very safe almost ideal activities during this time. by definition you arte social distancing,
Perfect ... unless i am missing something keep them open. Thats how i got to this site ... thinking about going camping.
I notice that al the negaltive comments have no reasons for their thoughts.
T
I'm amazed we are STILL OPEN!!!! It shows us how unreliable NPS is during a GLOBAL concern. To see large organizations closing their doors during this "epidemic" who dwarf our revenue 10 fold yet we remain open? I was on the Park Bus yesterday and people were crammed in side by side.....so stupid. I guess $$$$ is more important than lives, that's America for you.
$$$$$$$$$$ bottom line.
Trees are not human. CLOSE ALL THE PARKS...
I work here and it makes NO SENSE at all to remain open. Xanterra, Delaware North and the other businesses need to make an Announcement in reference to this imminent threat. I'm not surprised we are still open, I'm not surprised there is 0 concern, I'm not surprised cancelling Reservations is no concern either. It doesn't surprise me that making money is more important than Human lives. With so many people from Europe & Asia here it wouldn't Surprise me at all if this Park is Quarantined next week.
Do you work at a National Park like us?
Only 3% actually hike the rest SHOP
I work here and washing hands and sanitizer isn't enough especially when so many people herd together on busses, the trains, in shops etc. The food outlets see Groups of large families oblivious to what's going on Globally. I see people, daily, sneezing and not covering up.....pretty bad.