Tucson, AZ - Saguaro National Park is announcing modifications to operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing. As of March 24, 2020, all front country restrooms and comfort stations in both districts of the park will be closed until further notice. Visitor centers remain closed and fee collection operations are temporarily suspended until further notice. All public programming continues to be cancelled until further notice. The health and safety of National Park Service (NPS) visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners is our number one priority.
Where it is possible to adhere to federal, state, and local health guidance, outdoor spaces will remain accessible to the public, including trails and wilderness campsites. Visitors should come prepared to experience the park without expectation of toilets, handwashing or hand sanitation to be available.
The NPS is taking extraordinary steps to implement the latest guidance from state and local authorities, which support the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) efforts to promote social distancing and slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As states and local governments announce further efforts to combat COVID-19, decisions on modifications to park operations are being made on a park-by-park basis. Visitor services, other than those of public and resource protection (such as law enforcement and trash removal), will be limited. The NPS urges visitors to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safe and healthy.
When contemplating a visit to a national park, the NPS asks people to act responsibly with regards to CDC, state and local guidelines to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Slowing the spread of novel coronavirus is everyone's responsibility. Please stay 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.
You don’t have to be in a national park to experience a national park! Across the nation, NPS parks and programs are sharing virtual content on their websites and social media. Check out our wildlife webcams, virtual tours, Junior Ranger programs, citizen science videos, even coloring pages. There are countless ways to #FindYourPark from home.
Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.
www.nps.gov
Tags: covid-19
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
