Coronavirus: Yellowstone, Grand Teton national parks closed to visitors

In this May 2011 file photo, tourists photograph Old Faithful erupting on schedule in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, the National Park Service announced that Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks would be closed until further notice, and no visitor access will be permitted to either park. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)

In this May 2011 file photo, tourists photograph Old Faithful erupting on schedule in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, the National Park Service announced that Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks would be closed until further notice, and no visitor access will be permitted to either park. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)

Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are closed to visitors until further notice because of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Park Service announced.

>> Coronavirus: What you need to know

Effective immediately, the two national parks are closed to all visitors until further notice.

State highways and/or roads that transcend park/state boundaries and facilities that support life safety and commerce will remain open.

The National Park Service will notify the public when full operations resume.

“The National Park Service listened to the concerns from our local partners and, based on current health guidance, temporarily closed the parks,” Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly and Grand Teton Acting Superintendent Gopaul Noojibail, said Tuesday.

The decision to close was at the request of local county health officers from Park County, Wyoming; Park County, Montana; Teton County, Wyoming, and Gallatin County, Montana.

The park service encourages people to take advantage of various digital tools available to learn about Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

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