National park closes as North Dakota COVID-19 cases rise

BISMARCK, N.D. – Federal officials announced Thursday they are prohibiting recreational use of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The closure comes as the state reported 28 new coronavirus cases, bringing the state total to 393. The number of cases reported Thursday was the most since the first case was confirmed on March 11.

The National Park Service said the park is closed to visitors until further notice. The park is the state’s top tourist attraction, drawing more than 700,000 visitors annually.

The park closure comes a day after Gov. Doug Burgum extended an order to keep most businesses closed until at least the end of the month.

Officials said 387 people have been screened since Wednesday bringing the total number tested in North Dakota to 11,704. They said 11,311 of those tests have come back negative.

There have been nine deaths due to the coronavirus in the state but none were reported Thursday

Health officials said there were 14 coronavirus patients who were hospitalized on Thursday.