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
The editorial you reference, EC, was not submitted March 26 by Dr. Fauci as you say. If you read to the bottom of the editorial, it specifically says: "This editorial was published on February 28, 2020, at NEJM.org". I don't believe any part of the country was shut down back in February.
Well, you have to give him credit for coming back and taking down his original comment to at least revise his reference to a Dr. Fochi and correctly reference Dr. Fauci before reposting with his original incorrect date on the misleading NEJM editorial intact. Given what we've been seeing come out of the GOP lately, he's not far off the current "standard of excellence" for the group.
BrianP - interesting point. But it was published in the journal March 26th. Do you not think they would have checked in with Fauci regarding any desired changes? And for "Submitted" who apparently thinks I miss quoted the article - here is the link. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2002387 Finally, "mainstream union organization"? Judge for yourself: https://www.workingamerica.org/ They self identify as progressives and have a radically leftist agenda.
OK, folks, could we move on?
Most parks don't require large groups in small spaces... it's the outdoors. People need places to go to relax and enjoy still. There's no risk when people are traveling in their own cars, hiking and staying away from other people. Stop trying to steal all our joy!