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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection cancels all events and activities

Florida state Parks
Posted at 8:56 PM, Mar 16, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-16 20:56:05-04

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection said the decision to cancel all events and activities is made out of an abundance of caution and is in line with guidance from the CDC for the public to avoid the gathering of large groups. The department will provide updates when events and activities will resume.

Currently, all Florida State Parks remain open to the public, however hours of operation have been reduced to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The DEP issued the following statement:

The safety and welfare of our employees and the public we serve are top priority to the DEP. DEP continues to take proactive measures and preventative actions to protect visitors, staff and volunteers as COVID-19 continues to be monitored.

For the protection of our staff and our day-use visitors, all state parks have been provided with signage and guidance on preventative actions to reduce transmission of respiratory illness. All staff are fully informed and utilizing the protocol urged by the CDC and Florida Department of Health. Surfaces and areas that are frequently touched are consistently disinfected throughout the day, and all facilities are regularly and thoroughly cleaned to protect visitor safety.

DEP continues to be in close communication with the Governor’s Office, the Florida Department of Health and CDC regarding the most recent COVID-19 status. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-(866) 779-6121 or emailing COVID-19@FLHealth.gov. The call center is available 24 hours a day.

If your travel plans have changed and you need to modify camping or cabin reservations, please contact ReserveAmerica at 1-800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.

For additional information on Florida State Parks, please contact 850-245-2157.