Discovery Museum will be closed through May 4: Information and Resources for Families

Update: Thursday, March 26, 2020

Discovery Museum will be closed through May 4, due to business restrictions in MA to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Along with museum visitation, all birthday parties, Field Trips, Especially for Me events and rentals during this time are all cancelled. We hope to reschedule many of them for later this year.

Although there is no known case of COVID-19 at the Museum, this decision follows the lead of our local schools and sister museums around the country and the order issued by Governor Baker, to ensure the health and safety of our staff and volunteers, visitors, and community.

Given the evolving nature of the outbreak, we will carefully reassess the situation in the coming weeks and share updates as they become available. Please continue to check our website and social media channels for new information. We appreciate your support and look forward to reopening when it is safe for the public, staff, and volunteers.

 

Resources

We have developed and curated a set of at-home activities and resources for families. Visit our new Discovery at Home webpage. This information resource will continue to be expanded over time.

Cleaning Protocols

At Discovery Museum, the health and well-being of our visitors and staff are our top priority. As we learn more about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we are evaluating our protocols and taking steps to help ensure a safer environment for all. We are tracking recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), and making changes as needed. 

  • The Museum is professionally cleaned each night after closing, including disinfecting all door handles, knobs, elevator buttons, and stair rails.
  • All door handles, knobs, elevator buttons, and stair rails are again disinfected by staff twice a day during open hours.
  • Tabletops and counters in exhibit areas are cleaned by staff after closing and twice a day during open hours.
  • Admissions Desk surfaces are disinfected at least twice a day.
  • Staff daily cleaning tasks include cleaning and sanitizing pretend food and dishware from Bessie’s Diner, “tasted toys,” trays from da Vinci Workshop, all loose parts in Brain Building Together, etc.

Site Accommodations

  • Hand sanitizer dispensers filled with Purell® 70% ethyl alcohol are located in the front lobby, outside the restrooms on the first and second floors, in the Community Gallery on the first floor, and in the da Vinci Workshop on the second floor.
  • We are increasing the number of tissue boxes and wastebaskets in the Museum.
  • Informative signage to encourage proper hand washing has been installed in all bathrooms.

Staff/Visitor Recommendations

  • We encourage our staff and visitors to do their part to keep the community healthy and safe:
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  • Stay home if you have a fever, and seek medical care.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, following proper hand-washing procedures.

 

We will continue to stay abreast of all updates and recommendations from the CDC and Massachusetts Department of Health, and are working in tandem with the Association of Children’s Museums and the New England Museum Association to ensure the highest level of commitment to safety and wellness for our Museum community. This page will be updated as necessitated by any changes in the above procedures and recommendations.