National parks can use local conditions to set COVID-19 mask rules, officials say

In an effort to align with new guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Park Service has updated its COVID-19 mask rules to allow for variances based on local conditions.

The new policy announced Friday will involve the CDCs COVID-19 community level Tool that “helps communities decide what prevention steps to take,” the park service said.

The CDC’s sweeping policy change chose to stop counting new infections to establish safety rules, instead focusing on whether local health systems are at risk of being overwhelmed by critically ill COVID-19 patients. Los Angeles County, for example, fell into the low category on Friday, allowing the county to remove its indoor mask mandate.

The park service said updates will be posted on signs at parks and on the Websites of the individual parks to help visitors plan their trips. Masks are still compulsory in all closed public transport.

“As mask requirements at parks continue to evolve, we want everyone to check the park website before heading out so you know what to expect when you get there,” Chuck Sams, director of the National Park Service, said in one Explanation.

In areas that the CDC says have high levels of community COVID-19, masks are required for everyone in all buildings, regardless of immunization status, officials said.

Masks are optional in most areas with low and medium COVID-19 community levels, but visitors should follow signs and instructions from park staff and volunteers.

Here are some of California’s most visited parks, based on current data:

Yosemite

Three of the four counties touched by Yosemite National Park — Mariposa, Tuolumne, and Madera — have high levels of community, according to the CDC tool. Only one, Mono County, is low.

Masks are mandatory for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in all public buildings, crowded outdoor areas and closed buses, according to the park’s website.

Joshua tree

Community levels are low in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, according to the CDC. The park has previously mandated masks indoors, but a park official said Friday they are currently optional.

Sequoia and King’s Canyon

Sequoia National Park is located in Tulare County where the community level is high. King’s Canyon is located partly in Tulare and partly in Fresno, where the community level is medium.

Masks are currently required in all park buildings, according to their website.

battlements

California’s newest national park has proven to be a popular tourist destination this year.

The park spans San Benito and Monterey counties, both of which have low-level parishes. However, a park official said Friday that masks are still required in all park buildings.

Mask guidelines at all parks are likely to be updated when the new policy is rolled out, officials said.