Yellowstone National Park will require that visitors aged 2 and over wear masks indoors. This is due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. Similar restrictions are in place at several other parks. The National Park Service also has a mandate for public transit to use masks in all its parks.
Four of the 10 most visited national parks in 2021 have indoor mask requirements: Yellowstone (Grand Canyon), Yosemite, and the Grand Tetons. No matter what vaccination status, all visitors must wear a mask.
According to the National Park Service, masking requirements will vary depending on where you are located and what COVID conditions it is. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will designate an area as having high COVID community levels. Parks must implement restrictions. According to the CDC, the community level is determined by the number of hospital beds used, hospital admissions, and total number of cases.
According to the Mayo Clinic Teton County has the highest COVID rates in Wyoming, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is home of the Grand Tetons as well as portions of Yellowstone. On average, it reports 16 cases per day and 70 infections per 100,000 residents. Yellowstone covers three states and five county, with three having high COVID communities, according to the CDC.
Mariposa County in California is home to Yosemite and has one of the highest COVID rates in the state, with 53.8 cases for every 100,000 residents. Data from the Mayo Clinic show that Coconino County is home to the Grand Canyon and has 38.8 cases for every 100,000 people.
Maine’s Acadia National Park states that face masks can be worn, while the Rocky Mountain National Park advises that people wear masks on public transportation and indoor facilities. However, it doesn’t require them to do so. Three Colorado counties make up the park, with one having a high COVID level.
The top 10 most visited national parks in America are Zion, Indiana Dunes, Great Smoky Mountains and Glacier. They do not have COVID restrictions at the moment. Both Zion and Glacier are located in counties that, according to the CDC, have a medium COVID level. This suggests that mask mandates might be enacted if COVID incidences continue to increase.
The NPS recommends that you visit a national park’s website if you plan to visit it this summer.
After a turbulent start to the tourist season, Yellowstone’s announcement is timely. The park was temporarily closed last month due to historic flooding that damaged roads, homes, and other structures. Although most of the park’s entrances are now open, some parts of the north loop remain closed. Three park visitors were bitten by bison in May. The latest incidents occurred within three days of one another.
This year, Yellowstone celebrates its 150th Anniversary.
