New York City To Reopen Museums By End Of August
As New York City begins to move into phase 4 of their reopening procedures, many public institutions are gearing up to welcome residents back to their establishments. The city’s many museums specifically are excited to implement new health and safety measures so they can open their doors once again to New Yorkers.
New York City is just one of many metropolitans that managed to keep their cultural institutions alive virtually throughout this pandemic. Now, they’re ready to invite community members back to see all the art and history that they’ve surely missed, with some new restrictions. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this week that all museums and other low-risk indoor cultural venues, such as bowling alleys and gyms, will be able to reopen on Monday, August 24th.
Restrictions will apply to all of these locations to keep the rate of new Covid-19 infections as low as they are now. Cuomo recently held a press conference regarding entering phase 4 of New York’s lockdown procedures and what that will entail for museums and other institutions in the city.
“Museums, aquariums, and other similar venues will be allowed to operate at 25 percent occupancy capacity, and will need to adopt recommended sanitation guidelines and ask patrons to wear masks and continue to social distance.”
With August 24th being the tentative date of these reopenings it’s important to note that not every single cultural institution in the city will be reopening that day. According to its website, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will officially be reopening on August 27th for premium members and August 29th for all other visitors. The MET will be requiring facial coverings at all times, maintaining a distance of six feet, temperature screenings, and multiple hand washing/sanitation stations.
The American Museum of Natural History is planning on delaying their reopening to members to be on September 2nd and to all other visitors on September 9th. Many museums are opting to let their premium members have initial access to the museum to keep group numbers even lower and to observe how well everyone is able to abide by the restrictions put in place. All ticket sales for the museum will give patrons a timed entry in order to limit capacity.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) plans to open its doors to all visitors on August 27th at limited capacity. Timed tickets will also be put in place for visitors, and individuals can start buying those tickets for the MoMA on August 21st. Everyone will be getting their temperature checked prior to entry, and any individual with a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will be turned away at the door.
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum has no official reopening date according to their website and all future online ticketing has remained suspended. There are also no official reopening dates for the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
Before you gear up to head back to your favorite cultural institution in NYC, do your research, check the establishment’s website to understand what a visit will actually look like, and deem it safe enough for yourself before going. Keep abiding by all the health and safety procedures put into place and listen to your healthcare professionals.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
