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National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service News Release
Release Date: March 17, 2020
Contact: NewsMedia@nps.gov
Virgin Islands National Park is Modifying Operations to Implement Latest Health Guidance
St John, U.S. Virgin Islands - Virgin Islands National Park is announcing modifications to operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and Territorial authorities to promote social distancing. As of March 18, 2020, the Cruz Bay Visitor Center is closed until further notice. Guided hikes and other programs are cancelled. Food service at Trunk Bay will not be available. Where it is possible to adhere to the latest health guidance, the park will remain open to provide healthy options for the public. Park trails, beaches, and waters remain open. The waters of Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument remain open.
The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working with the federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website and social media channels.
The NPS urges visitors to do their part when visiting a park and to follow CDC guidance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases by maintaining a safe distance between yourself and other groups; washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; and most importantly, staying home if you feel sick.
For high-risk populations, such as the elderly and people with underlying conditions, we ask that they take extra caution and follow CDC guidance for those at higher risk of serious illness.
Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please check with individual parks for specific details about park operations.
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About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Tags: covid-19
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
