The Washington Monument temporarily closed to the public on Friday, after a potential coronavirus exposure caused a staffing shortage.
The National Park Service (NPS) announced the closure in a press statement, saying the decision was taken in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance and in coordination with the NPS Office of Public Health.
“NPS is working to staff the Washington Monument at the appropriate levels to maintain the safety of its operations for visitors and employees,” said the statement.
The monument had reopened on October 1 after remaining closed for six-months due to the coronavirus pandemic. It operated seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm, with new safety and cleaning procedures in place including a face covering requirement for anyone inside the monument, online ticket distribution only, and prohibition of queuing among visitors.
On December 9, DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton penned a letter to the NPS, asking the agency’s Acting Director Margaret Everson to close the Washington Monument, as well as visitor centers, and other indoor properties in the National Capital Region until the pandemic is over.
Norton also requested that the NPS move all non-emergency employees to teleworking or to weather and safety leave.
“I understand that there have been at least four cases of COVID-19 and one hospitalization among NPS employees who work on the National Mall,” Norton said in the letter. “NPS employees need to be able to protect themselves and their families during this time of crisis.”
“I also understand that NPS has not closed indoor properties such as the Washington Monument and that visitors are not uniformly following mask and social-distancing guidelines while on federal property, including inside the Washington Monument’s elevator. These behaviors put NPS employees and the public at significant risk,” the congresswoman added.