Shenandoah National Park, renowned for its waterfalls and hiking trails, closed to the public Wednesday due to the coronavirus pandemic/NPS file

Editor's note: This updates with additional closures at Chiricahua National Monument, Coronado National Memorial, and Missouri National Recreational River.

Shenandoah National Park in Virginia became the latest unit of the National Park System to close due to the coronavirus pandemic, with officials acting Wednesday to "immediately close the park until further notice."

The decision came one day after former National Park Service managers, including past Shenandoah superintendents, wrote an op-ed column in The Hill calling for the park's closure.

"...in the middle of a global pandemic, when social distancing and statewide stay-at-home orders are the name of the game, it defies all logic and common sense to keep this popular national park open to visitors," read the column, written by Bill Wade, Jim Northup, and Doug Morris. "Although Shenandoah has closed all facilities, backcountry camping and popular trails, the park remains open. Visitors can still travel on Skyline Drive and congregate at its iconic overlooks, the very thing our medical authorities have cautioned against. This is a terrible risk to the health and safety of visitors, gateway communities and National Park Service employees who are still at work."

A park release Wednesday said the closure was promoted by a letter from the Rappahannock Rapidan Health District of the Virginia Department of Health recommending the full closure of Shenandoah.

Though the park has closed to visitors, Virginia State Highways 211 and 33 will remain accessible to pass-through.   

“These are unprecedented times, and we are all making sacrifices so that our communities can stay safe, healthy and resilient. The National Parks Conservation Association is calling for all national parks to close in order to protect park staff, visitors, and adjacent communities from the spread of COVID-19," said Joy Oakes, the national Parks Conservation Association's senior Mid-Atlantic regional director. "In recent weeks, crowds at Shenandoah National Park have continued to pack trails and cause parking lots to overflow, making it borderline impossible to practice the recommended social distancing required to keep park staff and visitors safe.

“We commend Superintendent Flynn for shutting down Shenandoah, a move that will help stop the spread of this virus and save lives. We will get through this together, and our parks will be there when we get back," added Oakes.

Elsewhere in the National Park System:

Staff at Chiracahua National Monument in Arizona said the park's entrance gate would close at noon on Thursday. The road will remain open to bicyclists, and trails will be open to hikers. In addition, all park restrooms will be closed on April 9 and no public facilities are available nearby. Visitor facilities including the campground and the visitor center will remain closed.

Coronado National Memorial, also in Arizona, announced that all park restrooms close at noon on Thursday, and said there are no public restrooms available nearby. The thru-road will remain open, and trails will be open to hikers. Visitor facilities including the visitor center, picnic area, Coronado Cave, and the cave trail will remain closed.

In South Dakota, the staff at Missouri National Recreational River said the headquarters building and visitor contact stations are closed. "Where it is possible to adhere to the latest health guidance, park property including Bow Creek, Goat Island and Green Island Recreation Areas and Mulberry Bend Overlook will remain open to provide healthy options for the public such as open trails and areas of recreation," the park added.