All interiors of the National Mall in Washington have been closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19, federal officials said Saturday.
The closure includes the Washington Monument, which was temporarily closed for the presidential inauguration, the National Park Service said in a statement.
It calls the closure “a measure to protect staff and visitors from the spread of COVID-19.”
The closure means that associated memorial parks, including the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument, Ford’s Theater National Historic Site and the Old Post Office Tower, have been closed.
Public toilets and outdoor memorials will remain accessible, officials said.
The District of Columbia on Saturday reported 172 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of pandemics to 35,077.
“The National Park Service will monitor the health conditions in the Washington DC area, as well as the opening status of other nearby visitor attractions, and reopen the Washington Monument and other indoor park facilities as soon as it is safe to do so,” the park service said.
Alec Hernandez contributed.