Mask Mandate Takes Effect in National Parks

Planning a trip to a national park? Don’t forget your mask.

Masks are now required in all National Park Service buildings and facilities and on park service lands where social distancing isn't possible, the National Park Service announced this week.

The mask mandate is connected to President Joe Biden's executive order requiring masks in federal buildings and on federal lands.

“Wearing a mask around others, physical distancing, and washing your hands are the simplest and most effective public health measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” NPS Office of Public Health Director Captain Sara Newman said in a news release. “Getting outside and enjoying our public lands is essential to improving mental and physical health, but we all need to work together to recreate responsibly.”

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On NPS-managed lands, masks are now required when physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as on narrow or busy trails and overlooks.

Many national parks closed facilities or shut down completely as the new coronavirus spread across the country.

As they reopened, it was clear that people who had been through lockdown wanted some outdoor time.

Yellowstone National Park saw its busiest September on record with 837,499 recreation visits — a 21% increase from September 2019, the park service said.

Overall, Yellowstone had 4.93 million visits in 2020, down a little more than 5% from 2019.

As of December, 522 National Park Service employees had tested positive for COVID-19, according to E&E News, citing internal Interior Department data. One NPS employee had died of the disease.

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