Finally, US National Park Visitors Are Required To Use Masks

Photo illustration (Joel Goyache / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Realizing that not everyone can maintain social distancing, visitors and workers of the United States National Park (US) are required to wear masks. This is to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The requirements for the use of masks in the National Park for all employees and visitors were announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

"Going outside and enjoying public land is important for improving mental and physical health, but we all also need to work together to stay accountable," said National Parks Office Public Health Director Sara Newman, in a release.

Citing CNN, Saturday, February 6, the new policy requires wearing masks in National Park buildings and facilities and on park grounds when social distancing cannot be maintained, "... including narrow or busy streets, sights and historic homes," the announcement said. .

"Park rangers are tasked with enforcing normal rules and regulations and these requirements and can issue appropriate citations to anyone who violates," a National Park spokesman said in a statement.

The National Parks manage 423 parks covering more than 85 million hectares, including memorials and monuments as well as 63 major National Parks that include the Grand Canyon National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Parks across the system have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. National Parks authorities urge visitors to check the park's website for operational changes before visiting. Yosemite National Park, for example, will start requesting reservations to drive to California parks starting February 8. That means visitors looking to see the late February sunset phenomenon in Horsetail Fall should book early. The National Parks also posted tips for responsible recreation.

The announcement of the use of masks comes after President Joe Biden signed an executive order on his first day in office mandating the use of masks in federal circles. Biden also made a personal request for US citizens to wear masks for the next 99 days, to stop the spread of the virus.

The US has the highest number of infections and deaths from COVID-19 in the world. There are 26 million cases of COVID-19 and 456 thousand people have died. Millions of people have also been expelled from work because of regional lockups. "This is wartime work," stressed Biden.

The US government is also aggressively expanding vaccine production and its power to buy more vaccines by taking full advantage of contracting authorities, including the Defense Production Act, according to the White House plan.