Grand Canyon National Park closed indefinitely Wednesday after a resident there tested positive for coronavirus as part of a pandemic that has infected more than 216,000 people in the U.S. as of that evening.
The national park in northern Arizona was under pressure for days from local and federal health officials to close. It gave in after receiving a letter from the county’s chief health officer, reported the Williams-Grand Canyon News.
“The Department of the Interior and the National Park Service will continue to follow the guidance of state and local health officials in making determinations about our operations,” said Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt in the announcement. “As soon as we received the letter from the Health and Human Services Director and Chief Health Officer for Coconino County recommending the closure of Grand Canyon National Park, we closed the park.”
On March 30, a Grand Canyon Village resident tested positive for COVID-19, according to a message sent to employees from Mary Risser, acting superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park.
“As a precautionary measure, the resident has been in self-isolation as of March 25. We have consulted with NPS Office of Public Health and have taken appropriate public health actions to minimize the risk of the virus spreading,” the message read. “We understand many of you may have questions or concerns; we encourage you to share these with your supervisors, safety officer, or leadership. Your welfare is our primary concern.”
About 2,500 people reside in Grand Canyon Village, reported the Arizona Republic.
The Navajo Nation, which borders the park’s eastern boundary, also called for the park’s closing.
The park had stopped collecting entrance fees and scaled back its services in mid-March. Later that month, it suspended operations at several campgrounds and closed trails.
Almost 6 million people visited the Grand Canyon in 2019. It almost certainly is the most popular side trip for Route 66 travelers, requiring a 60-mile journey from Williams.
(Image of Grand Canyon National Park by Dariana via Flickr)