Grand Canyon National Park
Key Messages – Week of August 9, 2021
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The number of cases nationally and locally continues to increase.
- The rolling 7-day average for Arizona increased to 2,408 new cases per day this week, which is a substantial increase over last week’s average number of cases of 1,825. Arizona has now had seven consecutive days cases with over 2,000 new COVID cases per day.
- According to the CDC, Coconino County remains in high community transmission status (while the county is in substantial or high transmission, all individuals, whether vaccinated or not, must wear masks while indoors in all government buildings unless you are in a private office space).
Reporting exposure to COVID and COVID-like symptoms is critical to limiting transmission.
- If you think you may have been exposed to COVID, regardless of your vaccination status, immediately isolate and report your situation to your supervisor and Public Health Consultant Ronan King, and await their instructions.
- Following this protocol and Ronan’s instructions is extremely important so that any community spread can be contained.
Breakthrough COVID cases
- You may have heard reports of vaccinated individuals contracting COVID. As we’ve discussed in previous updates, it is possible for vaccinated individuals to contract COVID, particularly the new delta variant. This situation is rare and has only occurred in a small percentage of vaccinated people.
- Fully vaccinated individuals are much less likely to be hospitalized or die from a COVID infection than those with similar risk factors who are not vaccinated.
Additional Information
Navajo Nation Update
- Navajo public health orders continue to be in effect.
- The public mask mandate on Navajo Nation includes schools and businesses
- ‘The Pandemic Daily Curfew’ has been lifted across the Navajo Nation.
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Public Health Contacts
If you test positive for COVID-19, immediately inform your supervisor and our NPS Public Health Consultant. This is to ensure proper public health protocols are followed and that any exposure is minimized.
- Ronan King, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health Service
- Mobile: (202) 891-8599
- Email: ronan_king@nps.gov
- For all email correspondence, please also cc: Chris Glime, Captain, U.S. Public Health Service
- Mobile: (202) 641-3518
- Email: christen_glime@nps.gov
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North County Healthcare and COVID-19 Testing
- North Country HealthCare at the Grand Canyon Clinic provides comprehensive medical services to residents, seasonal workers and visitors. Services include primary care, urgent care, pharmacy, physical therapy and virtual visits. Summer clinic hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Symptomatic COVID-19 testing is available by appointment.
- The clinic also has testing available Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
- In Flagstaff, COVID testing is available at the NAU Fieldhouse at 1050 Knoles Drive and many other locations around town.
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Messages and Grand Canyon News
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Perseid Meteor Shower Peak, August 12-13
Grand Canyon boasts some of the darkest skies in the nation, and given our Gold Tier status as an International Dark Sky Park, residents and visitors may have a great seat to view the Perseid Meteor Shower, peaking Thursday and Friday. If skies remain clear, up to 60 meteors may be seen in an hour with the best viewing from midnight until dawn.
Additionally, the moon won’t be obscuring your view! Find a nice spot and look toward the constellation Perseus. For help finding it, visit https://www.heavens-above.com/ for an interactive sky map.
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Transcanyon Waterline Project Update
The Transcanyon Waterline Project Design Team, the HDR design firm, with support from their subcontractor, Lithos, and GRCA’s Facility Management Division, will perform geotechnical test borings at the site of the proposed South Rim Water Treatment Plant and reclaimed water tanks during the week of August 16.
This location is near the South Rim tank farm between Yavapai Lodge and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. These test borings are needed to verify foundation design parameters for proposed structures including a new water treatment plant.
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Temporary Compost Toilet Closure at 1.5 mile on Bright Angel,
August 19
On Thursday, August 19 from 7 a.m.-11:30 a.m. there will be a temporary closure of the Mile and Half compost toilet facility on the Bright Angel trail. The facility will be closed for contractors to assess and prepare cost estimates for future upgrades.
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Interpretation Updates
South Rim Evening Program Schedule Now Available
Our Interpretation and Resource Education rangers have released their evening program line-up for the South Rim Village district. Topics range from history, the river, wildlife and more! Check them out at McKee Amphitheater, located a short walk from the NPS Headquarters building. Evening programs begin nightly at 8 p.m.
“Minute-Out-In-It” Videos
Interpretive Rangers, led by Rader Lane, have been working on a series of “Minute-Out-In-It” videos that are released weekly and provide an opportunity to experience engaging moments in the Canyon. New videos are posted on Sundays and remain available on the park’s Facebook page.
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Family Liaison Officer Training this Week
This week, the Grand Canyon Branch of Emergency Services hosted a training for new and existing Family Liaison Officers (FLOs). These individuals are called to respond and assist families experiencing crisis following a serious incident in the park. Examples of these incidents at include, but are not limited to: medical emergencies, missing persons, fatalities, and natural disasters.
Family Liaison Officers provide an invaluable link between those effected by a serious incident and those managing one. Whether someone experiences an incident first-hand or are a family member or friend of someone involved, FLOs are there to provide guidance, logistical assistance, and support.
We thank all of the FLO trainees for their care and consideration for all family members effected by tragedy here at Grand Canyon.
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New NPS Leadership Updates
Over the last year or so, we have prioritized ensuring key leadership positions in the park are filled as quickly as possible so employees have the support they need to get their jobs done. Our efforts have been paying off. Several key leadership positions have recently been filled and new leaders have joined or will be joining Grand Canyon over the next several months:
- AJ Lapré has accepted and has started in the position of Deputy Chief of Interpretation and Resource Education. He has transitioned into this new role from being the Branch Chief of Interpretation here at Grand Canyon.
- Matt Jenkins has accepted the position as the new District Ranger for the North Rim District and will soon transition from his current position as a North Rim Supervisory Law Enforcement Ranger here at Grand Canyon.
- Angela Boyers will be joining us in September as the new chief of Visitor and Resource Protection. We are very proud to have Angela become the first female Visitor and Resource Protection Chief in Grand Canyon’s history.
- Dave Worthington will be joining us in October as the new chief of Science and Resource Management. Dave will be joining us from Virgin Islands National Park where he serves as the Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management.
- Lisa Hendy will be returning to us in October as the new District Ranger for the Canyon District. Lisa will transition into this new role from being the Chief of Visitor and Resource Protection at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Call for Photographs and Stories!
On August 25, the National Park Service will commemorate its 105th birthday. In celebration of this event, the NPS is inviting all staff and visitors to submit photographs and stories for a virtual park scrapbook by using (hashtag) #MyParkScrapbook.
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Current Operational Hours
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South Rim
- Maswik Lodge Cafeteria: 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Bright Angel Fountain and Coffee House, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m.
- Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 6 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli-7 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Bright Angel Bikes, Rentals: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Cafe: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Kolb Studio: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Grand Canyon Visitor Center information table: 8a.m.-5p.m.
Desert View
- Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
- Desert View Watchtower, staffed by GCC 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily. On August 15, due to staffing changes the Watchtower will be open Friday-Tuesday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Watchtower will be closed to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Desert View Information Table, staffed by NPS. The table is located on the north side of the main parking lot, in front of the building on the left side of the Orientation Plaza. Hours: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily.
- Desert View Campground is open. Reservations can be made via www.recreation.gov.
North Rim
- General Store, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
- Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk, NPS staffed from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily
- North Rim Visitor Center, GCC staffed from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- North Rim Lodge dining, 4:30-9:30 p.m. daily
- Deli in the Pines, 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily
- Rough Rider Saloon, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily
The following park closures remain in place:
- South Rim Visitor Center (indoors), information table staffed 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily
- Headquarters Information Desk
- Yavapai Lodge Restaurant
- Maswik Pizza Pub, Arizona Steak House, and Fred Harvey Burger
- Xanterra bus tours (suspended)
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