Jun
03

COVID-19 Update: What does Phase 1 mean to you?

Banner showing COVID-19 virus

As Smithsonian units actively plan for Phase 1 of reopening, we want to assure you that for most staff, your day-to-day work experience will not change significantly when we do move into that phase. Museums will not be opening to the public and staff who are currently teleworking will continue to do so. When each Smithsonian location does enter Phase 1, that information will be communicated to you.

Remember, you should not change your work status until you hear directly from your supervisor and/or unit director. Supervisors and unit leadership will be able to help you understand how your role and job requirements may change throughout the phases of reopening.

To help explain this transition, Eric Gentry, Director of the Smithsonian Office of Emergency Management, has taken a moment to remind us what Phase 1 of reopening means in this short video.

To learn more, please see this new section of the reopening website. Once there, you’ll find a graphic that highlights each phase of reopening, the criteria used to move into the next phase, and what it means for our staff, our facilities, and our programs. Beneath the infographic, you’ll see the guiding principles steering our course and can read more about Smithsonian’s phased approach to reopening.

As always, you can stay up to date by frequently visiting the reopening website. Please continue to share feedback with the COVID-19 Response Team and Reopening Task Force by emailing si-coronavirusinfo@si.edu. If you have questions specific to your unit and team, contact your supervisors and your unit’s Emergency Operations Group representatives.

 


Posted: 3 June 2020
About the Author:

Alex di Giovanni is primarily responsible for "other duties as assigned" in the Office of Communications and External Affairs. She has been with the Smithsonian since 2006 and plans to be interred in the Smithson crypt.