Museums Allowed to Reopen, with Restrictions, on June 10

On Friday, June 5, it was announced that museums can reopen on June 10. Guidelines from the state are found on the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s website. 

The document can be used to adapt the COVID-19 Preparedness Plan template and instructions. Museums are required to have this completed business preparedness plan. It is not required to be submitted to Department of Labor and Industry for approval but needs to be made available upon request.

The Key Requirements:

• Have adopted and implemented a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan 
• Limit occupancy capacity to no more than 25% not to exceed 250 persons 
• Ensure social distancing and a minimum of 6 feet between persons 
• Strongly encourage masks for workers and customers

Worker Protections And Protocols For All Workplaces 

1. Ensure sick workers stay home
2. Social distancing – Workers must be at least six-feet apart 
3. Worker hygiene and source controls
4. Workplace building and ventilation protocols
5. Workplace cleaning and disinfection protocols
6. Drop-off, pick-up, and delivery practices and protocols
7. Communications and training practices and protocol 
8. What patrons can do to minimize the transmission
9. Additional protections and protocol for receiving/ exchanging payment
10. Additional protections and protocol for managing occupancy 
11. Additional protections and protocol for arrival and assignment 
12. Additional protections and protocol to limit face-to-face interaction
13. Additional protections and protocol for distancing and barriers
14. Additional protections and protocol for concessions
15. Additional protections and protocol for exiting 
16. Additional protections and protocol for sanitation and hygiene

Here are some of the key findings in some of these sections. This summary should not take the place of reading and understanding the full document. 

1. Ensure sick workers stay home
   • Establish health screening protocols for workers at the start of each shift (e.g. health screening survey, taking temperature). 
2. Social distancing – Workers must be at least six-feet apart 
   • Workers who are able to work from home must work from home.
   • Evaluate traffic patterns, choke-points, consider one-way traffic flow, etc.
3. Worker hygiene and source controls
   • Ensure that workers regularly wash their hands.
   • Provide recommended protective supplies (face-coverings, gloves, disinfectant, guards, etc).
   • Post “Hand-washing” and “Cover your coughs” signs
   • If touching something (door handle, button, etc) is needed to open a bathroom door, provide a station with paper towels and a waste bin stationed nearby.
4. Workplace building and ventilation protocols (Ventilation System Start-up)
   • Consult the Center for Disease Control guidance for re-opening buildings after prolonged shutdowns.
   • Increase the outdoor air-percentage to increase dilution of contaminants, and eliminate recirculating, whenever possible, while maintaining indoor air-conditions.
   • Continuously maximize fresh-air into the workplace, and eliminate air recirculation. 
   • Maintain relative humidity levels of RH 40-60% 
   • Keep systems running 24/7.
   • Add a flush cycle to the controls of the HVAC system, and run HVAC systems for 2-hours before and after occupancy.
5. Workplace cleaning and disinfection protocols
   • Establish a documented sanitation schedule.
   • Focus on “high touch” items (door knobs, light switches, countertops, etc).
   • Reduce sharing of equipment.
   • Consult the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of cleaning products. 
6. Communications and training practices and protocol 
   • All workers must be trained on procedures, practices, and protocols.

8. What patrons can do to minimize the transmission
   • Advise them to conduct a self-check prior to arrival.
     1. Have them review a screening survey. 
   • Have patrons wear a face covering unless not recommended for health or physical ability reasons. 
9. Additional protections and protocol for receiving/ exchanging payment
   • Use contactless payment whenever possible.
   • When contactless payment is not available ensure six of distance.
   • Install physical barriers between staff and patrons.
10. Additional protections and protocol for managing occupancy
    • Venues must defer to the occupant capacities as established by applicable state or local authorities.
    • Stagger reservation times.
    • Post signage at entrance.
    • If using reservations, send protocols to visitors before arrival.

12. Additional protections and protocol to limit face-to-face interaction
    • Evaluate all face-to-face activities.
    • Staff should always use masks when working with a patron.
    • Avoid performance-related demonstrations between staff and patrons that conflict with social distancing. 
13. Additional protections and protocol for distancing and barriers
    • Space, configuration and flow of the establishment should be evaluated to allow for physical distancing of 6-feet by all workers and patrons.

16. Additional protections and protocol for sanitation and hygiene 
    • Schedule reservations for longer than their typical duration to minimize the congregation of patrons waiting, allow for social distancing during arrival and departure, and provide for ample time for sanitation and air-circulation.
    • Provide hand sanitizer at the entrance, point of purchase, and prominent locations for customers