Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


3 More US National Parks Close to Prevent Coronavirus Spread

Associated Press

   SALT LAKE CITY - Three more of America's most popular national parks
   have closed their gates as pressure mounts on superintendents to
   prevent crowded trails that could lead to more spread of the
   coronavirus, even as the Trump administration sticks to its decision to
   waive entrance fees at the parks.

   Glacier in Montana and Arches and Canyonlands in Utah announced their
   decisions to close Friday night, days after several other well-known
   parks such as Yellowstone, Grand Teton and the Great Smoky Mountains
   did the same.

   Visitors travel to Arches and Canyonlands to hike red rock trails that
   lead to picturesque rock arches and canyons outside Moab, Utah -- where
   city leaders and regional health leaders this week sent letters to the
   National Park Service pleading for the closure of the parks. The health
   department had already banned local hotels from allowing tourists to
   stay after seeing continued crowds in town and the parks, even as the
   virus spread across the United States.

   Visitors kept coming

   In a tweet announcing the closures, Arches and Canyonlands said the
   decision to close was made in response to local health officials.

   Park staff was at risk as visitors kept coming to the parks, including
   about 700 cars per day last weekend, the Southeast Utah Health
   Department said in a letter Wednesday to the park service. Moab's small
   hospital has only two ventilators -- vital for patients with severe
   cases of COVID-19 -- and no intensive care rooms, the letter said.

.