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
I agree with keeping the parks open. What better way to stay healthy and positive than being out in the fresh air and getting exercise. It keeps up the endorphins. Proven to be good for your health, mentality and physically.
At Lake Powell we have college students from Pennsylvania University enjoying their EXTENDED Spring Break with excitement about being able to TRAVEL MORE! So closing the college's already backfired! I work for a retailer & I'm worried tourist are going to end up KILLING my older customers who need to shop for necessities or coworkers who need the paychecks. This week alone I've talked to people from at least 10 states, 5 other countries - including France & people speaking Italian!! No one's worried about long solo hikes it's people using closures to move around more spreading the virus. Not saying anything wrinw about going to a park in your own backyard but do you really want everyones germs in town & people to keep travelutr.
After a risk assessment, it seems reasonable to limit access to high risk venues and activities such as visitors' centers, restaurants, lodges, etc.; but keep the other activities such as hiking, camping, personal touring available.
Xanterra is not allowing people to cancel reservations. Seams iresponsible and dangerous for everyone
Seems like the park service is only one getting this right!
That's an easy opinion to have if you are not a national parks employee who's has not been given a teleworking option and has to come in and work with crowds of people from every country in the world and maintain the facilities that they use. Feel free to volunteer at a park to get the full experience.
Many of the parks have close dorm style living for their workers and volunteers. They may have to close the concessions and group activities. Keeping the parks open for RV and tent camping would be good. Lots of "social distancing".
keep in mind that the National Park Service takes orders from the White House, transmitted through the adept of the Interior.