National Zoo, Smithsonian Museums To Close Due To Coronavirus

WASHINGTON, DC — Effective Monday, all Smithsonian Museums, including the Smithsonian's National Zoo, will be temporarily closed as a public health precaution to help diminish the spread of COVID-19, the illness associated with the new coronavirus.

Smithsonian officials made the announcement Friday in an online post and letter from Steve Monfort, the John and Adrienne Mars director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.

"While I am disheartened to share this news, I am also optimistic that we know more about this virus now than when we first closed in March, and with early and decisive action we will continue moving, slowly, towards our shared ultimate goal to reopen for good," Monfort said in his letter.

The National Zoo and the Smithsonian museums closed in March in response to Mayor Muriel Bowser's initial stay-at-home order, which restricted the the size of public gatherings in the district.

As some jurisdictions in the D.C. metro region began lifting restrictions over summer as part of their phased reopening, the zoo and the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, reopened on July 24 with new safety measures in place and limited access to the facilities during the day.

With Friday's announcement, the facilities will once again be closed to the public. No reopening date has been announced, and the public is encouraged to visit the zoo and museum websites and social media for updates.

The zoo will remain open Friday through Sunday and will honor any passes visitors may have reserved for those days.

"As we have maintained from the beginning, our top priority is to protect the health and safety of our guests, animals and staff," Monfort said. "We will use this time to reassess, monitor and explore additional risk-mitigation measures. We are closely monitoring guidance from local governments, public health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rest assured that our Zoo team will care for the animals in our care with their usual expertise, dedication and passion."

Monfort also encouraged people to watch the giant panda cub continue to thrive on the zoo's Giant Panda Cam.