Peabody Essex Museum To Remain Closed Amid Coronavirus Spike

SALEM, MA — The historic Peabody Essex Museum in Salem will stay closed for at least one more week amid the coronavirus spike in the region.

The museum said on Wednesday that "for the safety of our staff and visitors" it will stay closed to the public until at least Jan. 13.

Until then, the museum is encouraging people to engage with its online collection through virtual gallery tours, read stories on the museum's blog or take part in one of the PEM Walks exhibits around downtown Salem.

When it reopens, and currently featured online, the museum will feature "The Great Animal Orchestra: Bernie Krause and United Visual Artists" through May 22.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)