Closures, restrictions and public use limits April 9, 2020

Signed copy of this announcement

NPS document

W22 (BOWA-VRP)
Closure Order # 20-001
April 9, 2020

Closures, restrictions and public use limits:

Closure Order – All of a Park Area: Under the authority provided to the Superintendent in 36 CFR 1.5 all lands administered by the National Park Service within Booker T. Washington National Monument are closed, effective immediately, until further notice.

Authority: 36 CFR 1.5(a)(1)

Notice: This administrative order applies to all individuals subject to the regulatory authority of the National Park Service (NPS) within the boundaries of Booker T. Washington National Monument, including park visitors, government employees, concession employees, park residents and stakeholders, except as follows: personnel deemed essential per local, state, or federal guidelines.

Finding: The NPS issues this administrative order for the purposes of maintaining public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. This order is consistent with the following public health directives:

• Commonwealth of Virginia Executive Order Number Fifty-Five: Temporary Stay at Home Order Due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), March 30, 2020 https://www.governor.virginia.gov/executive-actions/
• Commonwealth of Virginia Executive Order Number Fifty-Three: Temporary Restrictions on Restaurants, Recreational, Entertainment, Gatherings, Non-essential Retail Businesses, and Closure of K-12 Schools Due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), March 23, 2020 https://www.governor.virginia.gov/executive-actions/
• Center for Disease Control (CDC) Guidelines on Social Distancing, Quarantine and Isolation: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html
• The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coronavirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf

These directives require the NPS to take the action identified above because:

• Allowing individuals to mingle and gather within park visitor centers, offices or facilities increases the risk of introduction, transmission and community spread of COVID-19 per CDC guidelines for social distancing.

• Outdoor gatherings of more than 10 individuals increases the risk of introduction, transmission and community spread of COVID-19 per CDC guidelines for social distancing.

• Booker T. Washington National Monument visitor center, museum and facilities are considered non-essential businesses, and required to close per Commonwealth of Virginia Executive Order 53.

• National Park Service staff (except for personnel providing essential services) are required to stay at home per Commonwealth of Virginia Executive Order 55.

This order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until further notice. The effectiveness of this order will be assessed on an ongoing basis and will be modified or removed when conditions warrant.