As omicron variant cases surge in Washington D.C., four Smithsonian museums will temporarily shutter their doors.
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) are closed starting Wednesday through January 3, 2022.
“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 organization said in a statement. “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.”
The temporary closures will allow the Smithsonian to reallocate staff to other museums, which will remain open for the rest of the week.
