Coronavirus Latest: Smithsonian Public Events Canceled, Museums And Zoo Remain Open

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MAR 10, 12:52 PM

Coronavirus Latest: Smithsonian Public Events Canceled, Museums And Zoo Remain Open

Staff

March 12, 10:18 a.m.: While the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo currently remain open to visitors, all Smithsonian public programs and events have been canceled through May 3rd.

The announcement comes a day after the D.C. Health Department issued an advisory recommending all mass gatherings of more than 1,000 be canceled.

The D.C. region is home to the majority of the Smithsonian’s 19 museums, galleries and gardens. Canceled events include a discussion about D.C.’s issues with food insecurity at the African American History and Culture Museum, a cherry blossom celebration at the American Art Museum, and screenings at the Natural History Museum of films associated with the D.C. Environmental Film Festival, which has also been canceled.

The Smithsonian did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether the museums themselves will remain open. — Mikaela Lefrak

More stories below:

• National Cherry Blossom Festival Cancels Some Events, Including Kite Festival

• 9:30 Club, Lincoln Theatre, And The Anthem Postponing Shows Until April 1

• Hundreds Of Episcopal Churches, Including The National Cathedral, To Close

• Bowser Declares State Of Emergency; D.C. Now Has 10 Cases

• Wizards And Caps Will Continue To Play With Fans Present, Says Monumental Sports

• Events DC Suspends Operations After Two More AIPAC Attendees Test Positive for COVID-19

• Ninth Case In Virginia Brings The Region’s Total To 22

• D.C. Health Calls For ‘Non-Essential’ Gatherings Of 1,000 People Or More To Be Cancelled

• Georgetown, GWU, University Of Maryland Move Classes Online

• D.C. Public Schools Will Close Monday So Teachers Can Prepare For Remote Teaching

• Virginia Rep. Don Beyer Is Self-Quarantining After Contact With Friend Who Tested Positive

• Fairfax County Public Schools Declares Student Holiday On Monday

• Washington Post Encourages Employees To Work From Home

• Maryland Gov. Instructs Nursing Homes To Avoid Outside Contact To Avoid Coronavirus Outbreak

• American University Cancels In-Person Classes, First D.C.-Area University To Move Online

• National Cherry Blossom Festival Cancels Some Events, Including Kite Festival

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Hundreds Of Episcopal Churches, Including The National Cathedral, To Close

March 11, 4:49 p.m.: Episcopal churches in the Washington area will close for two weeks amid the coronavirus crisis, the Washington Post reports.

All 88 church buildings in Maryland and D.C. will be closed to the public, Bishop Mariann Budde told the outlet. The Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia confirmed that 179 churches in Virginia will also be closed until March 25, per the out.

The closures will include the Washington National Cathedral, a regal building in Northwest that draws hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. The National Cathedral is the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.

Tens of thousands of parishioners attend services at the hundreds of Episcopal churches set to close for the next two weeks.

The Washington diocese will stream its services on Sundays, per the Post.

D.C.’s first confirmed case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, was the rector of Christ Church in Georgetown, another Episcopal church. The Reverend Tim Cole remains in stable condition. The city has asked hundreds of parishioners of the church to self quarantine for the next two weeks as a result of their potential exposure. — Natalie Delgadillo

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