Some Smithsonian locations move to High Category for COVID infection

As we enter the third summer of the pandemic, COVID continues to impact the communities where we live and work. In fact, due to worsening COVID metrics, two of Smithsonian’s operational areas, New York City and Boston, Massachusetts, have entered the High Regional Level category and have begun to implement additional mandatory safety mitigation measures for staff and the public.

While we hope this does not happen, the fact is any of our areas could move into High. To be prepared, we encourage you to visit the Way Ahead website and become familiar with the recommended and mandatory safety measures for each level.

Regardless of COVID level, there are several ways you can keep yourself and those around you safe.

• Masking: With worsening numbers across the nation, we encourage you to continue practicing additional safety measures like masking in crowded spaces even when it is not required. If you would like to voluntarily wear an N95 respirator or KN95 mask at work, please contact your supervisor and unit’s Safety Coordinator to place an order. For regions in high, all staff and visitors are required to wear multi-layer masks when indoors at Smithsonian facilities.
• Training: If you have not done so already, please take the required COVID-19 Safety Training. It provides important safety information, gives information on the voluntary use of N95 respirators, and explains the required mitigations for each category of the Smithsonian’s COVID-19 Regional Levels.
• Daily Health Questionnaire: Do not ignore any new symptoms, no matter how mild! All staff must continue to thoughtfully and honestly answer the daily health screening questions and follow the instructions before reporting to work. If you are sick, stay home!
• Contact Tracing: If you are a primary contact or have tested positive, report your status to Occupational Health Services (OHS) so they may begin contact tracing procedures. Should they contact you, please treat our nurses with kindness and respect. They are working tirelessly to keep our community safe and stop illness from spreading in our offices.
• Testing: It may be difficult to know if you have simple allergies or something more serious like COVID. Testing can give you reassurance. Every United States household may now order their third round of free at-home testing kits. Additionally, many jurisdictions have testing locations for free on-site or take-home tests.

Please continue to stay COVID aware, visit the Smithsonian’s COVID website, follow all recommended and required safety mitigations, and monitor your health. Thank you for your flexibility as we adjust to changing COVID-19 Regional Levels. Should you have any COVID-specific questions, please email SI-CoronavirusInfo@si.edu.

Stay COVID Safe,
OSHEM COVID Program
s.si.edu/COVID-19  

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