Health and Safety Protocols
Enhanced Health & Safety Measures
Cleaning Surfaces
DCM team members have been trained extensively on proper cleaning and disinfecting procedures following OSHA guidelines and safety precautions. The following are some of the enhanced cleaning measures our staff is overseeing:
- Daily deep cleaning and sanitizing will take place after hours with electrostatic spray disinfection (backpack fogger), which kills bacteria and mold.
- Throughout the day, DCM team members will disinfect with EPA-registered disinfectant (730 Peroxide Solution) with an emphasis on frequently touched surfaces.
- All exhibit parts that cannot be easily cleaned and/or properly disinfected, such as sand, have been removed.
- While closed, the Museum underwent a deep cleaning and disinfection, including HVAC cleaning.
- The facility has also undergone refurbishments, including repainting of all of the galleries and installation of new walls and floors in Water World.
- In addition, the Museum purchased and installed 12 hospital-grade HEPA air purifiers that eliminate ultra-fine particles like viruses.
- Documentation of cleaning practices will be recorded every hour and DCM will maintain cleaning logs for future reference.
- All designated food areas will remain closed and water fountains will be shut off until further notice.
Physical Distancing
Physical (social) distancing means keeping space between yourself and those who do not live in the same household as you. Both the CDC and SNHD recommend maintaining at least six (6) feet of distance between yourself and those who don’t live inside your home.
To help maintain proper physical distancing, DISCOVERY Children’s Museum will be implementing the following:
- Allowing a maximum of 175 guests inside our 26,000 square feet of Museum galleries;
- Setting up stanchions, floor markers, and kid-friendly signage to aid guests in maintaining 6 feet of physical distance and directing traffic flow throughout the Museum, including ticket queuing, exhibit queuing, and in hallways;
- Limiting the occupancy of each gallery based on size and closing certain high-touch areas such as The Summit;
- Limiting bathroom occupancy to four (4) visitors at a time, except for the family bathroom, which will be limited to one (1) visitor at a time unless that visitor is a child in need of a parent’s assistance.
In addition to the above:
- Online ticket purchases will be available and encouraged. Visitors who choose to purchase tickets online will be able to verify their ticket purchase by either:
- Presenting their e-ticket to the visitor services desk
- Presenting their print out of purchased tickets, or
- Providing a confirmation number of purchased tickets.
- A limited number of walk-in reservations will be held each hour;
- Credit/Debit Cards are preferred and Cash discouraged at this time;
- Plexiglass shields have been installed at the ticketing counter to further protect our visitors and team members;
- Furniture has been removed from the floor;
- Our elevator will have a dedicated operator and will be limited in capacity;
- There will be one staircase for travel upstairs and another for travel downstairs.
Temperature Screenings
Employees, interns, volunteers and security personnel at DISCOVERY Children’s Museum have been trained by a medical professional to properly conduct temperature screenings using ‘no-contact’ scanner thermometers.
Before entering the Museum, all staff and visitors must have their temperature scanned.
Anyone who presents with a temperature measured at (≥100.4° F) or (≥38° C) or greater will be escorted into a cool-down area where a secondary test will be conducted after five (5) minutes. The secondary test will be conducted by DISCOVERY management. Any child under two (2) years of age who presents with a fever will not be given a secondary screening and will not be allowed to visit the Museum.
If after the secondary temperature scan the visitor still presents with a fever, he or she will be asked to leave. If the visitor’s family members would like to stay, they can as long as they do not present with a fever or other known symptoms.
If tickets were purchased online, the visitor will have the option of being reimbursed or issued a comp pass to visit the Museum at a later date.
FACE COVERINGS
Face coverings are intended to trap droplets leaving the wearer’s mouth and nose, reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission, according to the CDC. They also help the wearer refrain from touching his or her face with unclean hands. To hear from doctors about why and when kids need to keep their faces covered, click here.
Wearing a face covering will be required for all individuals aged two (2) years and older, including both visitors and DCM employees. “DISCOVERY will permit a loose cloth or full-face shield (one that covers the chin) in place of a mask only for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, or other sensory sensitivities. Medical professionals have advised DISCOVERY Children’s Museum that visitors with severe asthma, respiratory illnesses and/or other medical conditions are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. If a visitor is unable to wear a cloth face covering for these severe medical reasons, they will unfortunately not be permitted to visit the Museum at this time.”
Visitors are encouraged to bring their own face coverings. Click here for CDC guidance on how to make, wear, and care for your own.
Disposable face coverings will also be available at no charge with admission, and washable face coverings will be for sale in the DISCOVERY Store.
When not wearing a face covering, while eating or drinking for example, it is important to follow proper cough and sneeze etiquette by covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue — or an elbow or shoulder if no tissue is available — followed by thorough hand washing.
Hand Hygiene
Though proper hand hygiene has always been encouraged, it is now more important than ever. Both the CDC and SNHD say washing your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds helps reduce your chances of contracting COVID-19. That’s why DISCOVERY has done the following:
- Posted kid-friendly restroom signage showing the importance of proper hand-washing;
- Installed touchless hand sanitizer stations, as well as pumps and disinfectant wipes, throughout the Museum, upon entry, outside of the restrooms, and prior to entry of certain galleries, such as Water World;
- Enforced a new rule stating that employees are to wash their hands before the start of their shift and every subsequent hour while on duty
Both DCM team members and visitors alike are reminded to wash their hands before eating, as well as before and/or after touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
It’s A Team Effort
While our team members promise to do everything they can to keep you and your families safe, as you can see, there are a few things we will be asking of our guests in return to ensure those efforts extend to everyone who walks through the Museum doors.
We care about our guests and respect that these rules may not be for everyone. That’s why we will be offering a full refund, no questions asked, to anyone unwilling to abide by them.
Key Takeaways
- Buy tickets online to minimize contact. As always, we will accept walk-ins, but on a first-come, first-served basis. Only 175 guests will be allowed inside the Museum at any given time.
- Enjoy the Museum, but practice physical distancing. There will be plenty of signage and lots of help from staff to help you remember to stay 6-feet apart.
- Wear a facial covering to protect yourself and those around you. If you don’t have your own, the Museum will provide you with one.
- Prepare to have your temperature scanned. It’s a quick, non-invasive process. Those with a fever will have their temperature scanned a second time after a 20-minute cool-down period.
- Bring your own water to help stop the spread of germs. We will be turning off our water fountains for the time being. Bottled water will still be available for purchase in our gift shop.
- Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds or more and if you have to cough or sneeze, do so into your elbow.
- We respect all our guests and understand these rules may not be for everyone. Anyone unwilling to abide by them will be issued a refund, no questions asked.
Please click the button below to read our reopening strategy in its entirety.
