Four of the Smithsonian’s museums temporarily closed on Wednesday, December 29, after a recent increase in COVID-19 infections among the institution’s employees. Another museum will close on Thursday.
The National Museum of African Art, the National Postal Museum, the Anacostia Community Museum and the National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery) will remain closed until Monday, January 3, 2022.
The National Museum of Natural History, which will close its doors on Thursday, is scheduled to reopen on January 5, 2022.
.@NMNH will be temporarily closed starting Thursday, December 30. We are scheduled to reopen Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022.
Information on visiting other Smithsonian locations can be found at: https://t.co/SMN30uK3Mc.
— Smithsonian's NMNH (@NMNH) December 29, 2021
“Like many other organizations, the Smithsonian has been managing the direct and indirect outcomes of the latest surge in covid infections caused by the omicron variant,” the Smithsonian said in a press release.
“Over the last few days, the Smithsonian has seen an increase in positive covid cases and associated quarantine periods among our essential and operational staff,” it continued.
During the closure of the four museums, the institution will be able to reallocate its staff while keeping other museums open for the rest of the week, according to the statement.