Coronavirus shuts down Washington Monument. What about other national parks?

One of America’s most recognizable monuments will be shutting down because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The National Park Service said Friday that it will temporarily suspend elevator tours of the Washington Monument starting Saturday, according to a news release.

Visitors can still be on the grounds or visit other monuments along the National Mall.

“The health and safety of people working at and entering the Washington Monument is our number one priority,” the news release stated. “We are working with the National Park Service Office of Public Health and the U.S. Public Health Service to closely monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. A reopening date has not been determined at this time. We will notify the public when we reopen the monument and provide updates on our website and social media feeds.”

The closing comes as President Donald Trump declared a national emergency because of the pandemic.

More than 1,600 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed nationally as of Friday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The National Park Service said earlier this week that the national parks are open and are “closely monitoring the situation and keeping staff informed,” according to a Wednesday news release.

“Visitors can be assured that facilities in national parks, including lodges and restaurants, continue to monitor conditions and maintain high standards related to the health and wellness of staff and visitors,” the Park Service said on its website. “Park and concession staff are working to maintain clean and healthy facilities in parks in accordance with CDC guidance.”

This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 9:05 PM with the headline "Coronavirus shuts down Washington Monument. What about other national parks?."