Citing dramatic surges in local cases of Covid-19, the Milwaukee Art Museum and Milwaukee Public Museum have both closed to the public. In a statement, the Milwaukee Art Museum says it will remain closed through at least Jan. 2, 2021. The public museum, meanwhile, has not announced a target reopening date.
This is the second shutdown of the year for both museums, which closed in March amid the early days of the pandemic. The art museum reopened to the public in June, followed by the public museum in August, with each adopting mask requirements, capacity limits and timed ticketing.
"During the closure, all virtual programming on mam.org will continue as planned, and visitors are encouraged to participate in the museum’s online content, including virtual tours of gallery spaces, art projects for kids and families and interviews with artists," the Milwaukee Art Museum wrote in a statement, adding that all timed ticket purchases will be refunded.
The Covid-19 crisis in Wisconsin has grown more dire by the week, with the state setting new records for new reported cases, deaths and hospitalizations in recent days. Yesterday alone the state confirmed nearly 8,000 new cases, and the situation is expected to grow worse as Thanksgiving gatherings further the spread of the virus.
Your #COVID19_WI update shows another record high number of new cases at 7,989. And listen to this: 19% of all hospitalized #COVID19 patients are in the ICU. Only 9% of ICU beds are available across the state. More about hospital capacity: https://t.co/bttprXAVBL pic.twitter.com/DKyi1QlrCf
— WIDeptHealthServices (@DHSWI) November 18, 2020
Gov. Tony Evers has issued an advisory asking Wisconsin residents to stay home for the holidays.