Grand Canyon National Park
Key Messages – Week of May 3, 2021
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This week’s numbers at a glance:
- The average number of new cases per day in Arizona in the last week was 727, about the same as 719 per day in the previous week.
- The total number of cases in the 86023 zip code since the pandemic began is 203. This number represents cases both inside and outside the park.
- Since the pandemic began, we’ve had 47 total positive COVID-19 cases in the park. To date, and as reported, none of the positive cases resulted from interaction with park visitors.
- More detailed statistics are available on the Coconino County COVID-19 Dashboard.
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Navajo Nation to Donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to India
- This week, in multiple interviews with the press, Navajo Nation President Nez announced that the Navajo Nation will be donating PPE to India to help with the surge of cases in the nation: The president said, “We do have a stockpile of masks that were donated as well as what we’ve made. So what we’re doing is we’re going to package that up and send it to our brothers and sisters in India because they’re getting hit hard and we really know how it feels.” The Navajo Nation was once the hardest hit locations in the country. As the Navajo Nation reaches over 50% of individuals fully vaccinated, the nation is looking to give back to communities in need.
- Wearing a mask in public is mandatory on Navajo Nation. The Nation is currently in a Shelter in Place order, including daily curfew hours from 11:00 P.M. MDT to 5:00 A.M. MDT.
- As always, there are no restrictions upon staff or community members relative to travel to and from the park.
- You can read NDOH Public Health Emergency Order 2021-008 here.
- Specific guidance for the Navajo Nation can be found on the Navajo Nation website.
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Public Health Consultant Contact Information
If you test positive or become ill with COVID-19 symptoms, please report your situation to your supervisor and our NPS Public Health Consultant immediately. This is to ensure proper public health protocols are followed and that any exposure to the virus 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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This Week’s COVID-19 Vaccine Information
The community Vaccine Event held in Tusayan last Thursday was considered a success and resulted in 85 doses of the Moderna vaccine being administered.
Vaccination numbers continue to improve across the country, state and county. However, our colleagues at the CDC and Public Health Service have noticed that vaccination rates are beginning to drop off, indicating that individuals are either choosing to not be vaccinated, or, in some cases, not getting their second dose of the 2-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
There is an ideal time frame to get a second dose of a two-dose vaccine – 21 days after the first dose for Pfizer and 28 days after first dose for Moderna. For many people, it is challenging to schedule the second dose within this timeframe, however, getting the second dose is necessary and you should get the second dose during or as soon after this window as possible. The first dose is meant as a priming dose, and the second is a booster dose. When you get that second dose, you are keeping and improving the quality of your immunity. Until you get that second dose, you remain at risk.
The risk to those not yet fully immunized is especially important now because the variants that are circulating are much more transmissible, and the virus can infect those who are not fully protected. Please get vaccinated and encourage your family and friends to get vaccinated. We cannot contain this pandemic unless we all do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19.
As of Monday, May 3:
- More than 312 million vaccine doses have been administered in the US.
- Over 56% of adult Americans have received 1 vaccine dose, and nearly 40% are fully vaccinated.
- Approximately 41% of Arizonans have received 1 vaccine dose, and 32% have been fully vaccinated.
- In Coconino County approximately 46% of the population have received the 1st dose, with 38% fully vaccinated.
To schedule a vaccine appointment at the Grand Canyon Clinic, call the clinic directly at 928.638.2551.
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What Can I Do If I’ve Been Fully Vaccinated?
- You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart.
- You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people of any age from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks or staying 6 feet apart, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
- You can gather or conduct activities outdoors without wearing a mask except in certain crowded settings and venues.
- If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
- If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
- It’s still important to avoid large indoor gatherings.
- Remember to keep wearing a mask whenever you are:
- Gathering indoors with unvaccinated people (including children) from more than one other household
- Visiting indoors with an unvaccinated person who is at an increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk
AS A REMINDER, this guidance does not apply to people living and working in shared quarters and bunkhouses, nor does it apply to our outdoor “Mask Mandate Zones” as defined in the Superintendent’s Compendium. All the current guidance and restrictions put in place by DOI and NPS still apply.
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Northern Arizona University’s Union Fieldhouse in Flagstaff opened a new vaccination site. This new location is open to Coconino County residents as young as 16 years of age.
The site is open 7 days a week from 7 AM to 5 PM and will have 1,000 appointments available each day. You can learn more from
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COVID-19 Testing Details
- The Grand Canyon Clinic has hours for COVID testing on Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. If you need a test outside of this hour, you need an order from your health care provider indicating a test is warranted.
- In Flagstaff, COVID testing is available at Coconino Community College at 2800 South Lone Tree Road, and the NAU Fieldhouse at 1050 Knoles Drive.
- Testing is also available at other locations in Flagstaff, including:
- Walgreens on 4th Street
- NextCare Urgent Care
- The Veterans Affairs Clinic
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Messages and Grand Canyon News
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Commercial Bus Tours Return to Grand Canyon
Commercial bus tours will again be a regular sight at Grand Canyon National Park in the coming weeks. The following two commercial vehicle occupancy models have been established and are effective May 8, 2021:
- Operators committing to have all customers/passengers either vaccinated or tested immediately before the trip (72 hours) will be permitted to operate in the park at 100% capacity.
- Operators that cannot commit to having all customers/passengers either vaccinated or tested immediately before the trip (72 hours) will be limited to 50% of vehicle capacity, or 10 persons (including driver, guide), whichever is greater.
- Continued COVID-19 mitigations and other CDC recommendations will remain in place for commercial operators.
- Operators will sign a certification document. Their signature on the document certifies they understand and agree to comply with the established parameters. This document will not need to be presented at entrance stations but should be carried in the tour vehicle.
Operators will be responsible for conducting their operations in a manner that is safe and protects the health of employees, customers and the public.
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Backcountry Information Center and Other Services Reopen
The Backcountry Information Center will reopen this Thursday, May 6th at 8am. Our staff is looking forward to interacting with visitors in person again and helping them plan for a safe backcountry hiking experience. Hours of operation will be just like in the “time before the pandemic,” 8am – noon; and 1pm – 5pm. COVID safety protocols will be in place, including masks, plexiglass at the desk, ticketed entry, cleaning schedules and physical distancing.
The Desert View Market opened last Friday. Operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Desert View Watchtower Retail Store (Kiva Room) will open to the public Friday, May 7th, with CDC guidelines and physical distancing measures in place. Face coverings are required to shop in the store.
- The store will be open Fridays through Mondays 9:00 am. – 5:00 pm.
- Only the ground level retail location will be open to the public.
The North Rim will be re-opening on May 15th. We will provide more details about the opening next week.
Minute Out In It: Ravens Playing with Their Shadows
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Interpretive Training Underway
Seasonal staff have arrived and are participating in a wide variety of orientation and training sessions.
Activities include walk-throughs of all visitor use areas, as well as visits to significant cultural and natural sites such as the Sentry Milk Vetch restoration area.
Park experts have been conducting classes in wildlife, geology, archaeology, paleontology, public health, PSAR best practices, identifying heat illness, and more.
The eager Interpretive team is ready to get out roving and helping visitors navigate the park and making connections to this amazing resource. Thanks to everyone who has helped make this year’s training a success!
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Leadership Program Congratulates 18 Graduates
The Grand Canyon Exploring Leadership program completed their 12-week leadership development program last week.
Leadership development was identified as a priority in our strategic plan, and this program enabled participants to build leadership skills and knowledge
The program included content and experiential learning in emotional intelligence, leadership communication, creating a thriving work culture, ethics in leadership, building and engaging effective teams, performance management, and managing people, objectives, and change. Participants also proposed “work reimagined projects” for improving how we work at GRCA.
The following Grand Canyon, Horace Albright Training Center, and Flagstaff Area Monuments staff graduated from the program. Congratulations to all graduates!
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Grand Canyon graduates include:
- Tarryn Bartkus
- Jeremy Childs
- Brian Donehoo
- Larry Glickman
- Mike Holmes
- Rebecca Koller
- Grace Lilly
- Hank Mallery
- Marie Malo
- Jason Morris
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- Emily Omana-Smith
- Nate Powell
- Daniel Schweitzer
- Duane Smith
- Maddie Tighe
Flagstaff Area Monuments graduates:
- Brenda Emry
- Marge Ullmann
Albright graduate:
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Current Operational Updates
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Desert View Accessibility
- The East entrance gate is open to traffic on Highway 64.
- Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream opened April 16th.
- Desert View Gas Station opened April 16th, offering Pay-at-the-Pump services only.
- Desert View Campground will open on April 29th. We will start taking reservations on April 21st. via www.recreation.gov.
Weekly Concessions updates
The following Concessions services will be available this week:
- The Fred Harvey Food Truck will be located at the El Tovar / Hopi House area from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Seven days per week, weather permitting.
- Maswik Gift Shop has expanded its hours to 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Canyon View Market Deli is currently closed.
- Canyon View Market will open at 7a.m., additional Breakfast items will be available at the Yavapai Coffee Shop (open 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.), and Lunch and Dinner will be available at Yavapai Tavern (open 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.).
- Desert View Market will operate 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
- Desert View Retail Store will also operate 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The following park closures remain in place:
- All residential areas
- South Rim Visitor Center and Headquarters
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