Starting on July 30, visitors must wear a face mask regardless of vaccination status in all Smithsonian museums
On Thursday the CDC reversed their mask-wearing mandate saying that “If you are not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or older, you should wear a mask in indoor public places.” The Smithsonian adopted this directive announcing that as of July 30, masks will have to be worn in all indoor public areas of the Smithsonian.
This announcement is put into effect one day before DC Mayor Bowser declared that as of Saturday, July 31, masks will have to be worn in all public indoor spaces “regardless of vaccination status” in DC.
This mandate does not apply to fully vaccinated visitors in outdoor areas like Smithsonian gardens or the National Zoo, but does apply when visiting indoor areas like restrooms or giftshops.
The Smithsonian is also no longer requiring visitors to reserve timed-entry passes at most locations. They have been using that system since the gradual reopening of museums to regulate the number of visitors to ensure social distancing guidelines.
Additionally, as of July 30, the Air and Space Museum and the Institution Building are reopening for the first time since March 2020.
[Featured image: @smithsonianzoo / Instagram]