As of Friday, July 8, Denali National Park and Preserve announced that they will be requiring all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to mask up while inside any federal building within the park or while riding a park bus, except in the Walter Harper Ranger Station in Talkeetna.
The decision has been made based on policy with the Department of Interior which requires federal agencies to institute mask mandates within federal buildings when COVID-19 community levels reach the ‘high’ category in the surrounding area, according to CDC guidance. This week, the COVID-19 Community Level was reported as ‘high’ for both the Denali Borough and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough based on data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During this time, all individuals over the age of two must wear masks, regardless of vaccination status, in all common areas and shared workspaces in buildings owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by the National Park Service, including, but not limited to, park visitor centers, administrative offices, lodges, gift shops, and restaurants. The policy also applies to all park buses operated by the park concessionaire, Doyon/Aramark Joint Venture, and includes all park courtesy shuttles, as well as the transit and tour buses.
According to a Denali National Park and Preserve press release, masks must cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face, adding that masks with ventilation valves and face shields do not meet the requirement.