Mar 18, 2020 - Health

National Park Service suspends entrance fees at parks

Fadel Allassan

Photo: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The National Park Service will temporarily suspend entrance fees at all parks that remain open during the coronavirus crisis, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt announced Wednesday.

What he's saying: National parks across the country will help "to recreate, embrace nature and implement some social distancing," Bernhardt said in a press release.

  • "This small step makes it a little easier for the American public to enjoy the outdoors," he continued.

Of note: A number of parks have closed in an effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus. But a majority of the ones in which it's possible to adhere to CDC guidances on social distancing are still open, according to the NPS release.

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Rebecca Falconer

New CDC coronavirus guide: Cancel large gatherings of 50-plus people

A sign reads "Today's Performance Is Canceled" at the shuttered Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles,on Sunday. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

The CDC said in new guidelines Sunday that gatherings of 50 or more people should be postponed or canceled for the next eight weeks to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

What they're saying: "Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities," the CDC said in a statement. "Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies."

Go deeperArrowUpdated Mar 15, 2020 - Health
Orion Rummler

Interior Dept. moves to sell oil drilling rights in Alaska wildlife refuge

A polar bear cub in 2014 in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in North Slope, Alaska. Photo: Steven Kazlowski/Barcroft Medi via Getty Images

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said Saturday that the Trump administration is "about to finalize a leasing plan" to sell rights for oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Bloomberg reports.

The intrigue: Some of America's biggest banks are cutting off financing for Arctic oil and gas projects.

Go deeperArrowFeb 29, 2020 - Politics & Policy
Axios

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 5 a.m. ET: 787,631 — Total deaths: 37,840 — Total recoveries: 166,088.
  2. U.S.: Leads the world in confirmed cases. Total confirmed cases as of 5 a.m. ET: 164,610 — Total deaths: 3,170— Total recoveries: 5,945.
  3. State updates: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo firmly ruled out a future presidential run. — Virginia, Maryland and D.C. issue stay-at-home orders to residents, joining 28 other states.
  4. Federal government latest: The Trump administration has deemed gun stores essential businesses during the outbreak.
  5. Military latest: The first U.S. service member has died of the illness.
  6. Business latest: Ford and General Electric aim to make 50,000 ventilators in 100 days.
  7. What should I do? Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
  8. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

Subscribe to Mike Allen's Axios AM to follow our coronavirus coverage each morning from your inbox.

Keep ReadingArrowUpdated 54 mins ago - Politics & Policy