According to the UK government’s roadmap for the easing of lockdown restrictions, museums in England will remain closed until at least July. The furlough scheme has also been extended again, running until October, indicating that some sectors may take considerably longer than others to recover from the COVID-19 outbreak.
The 5-phase government plan suggests that some English leisure venues and public spaces may be able to reopen again, once we reach the third stage, through meeting safety guidelines. Although that is the case, many museums may remain closed once restrictions are lifted, to ensure they aren’t part of a second wave of infections.
The reopening of leisure facilities, restaurants, and public spaces has been much debated in recent weeks. Museums will need to adhere to social distancing rules, meaning they may only operate at 30% of the capacity they are capable of. The plan says “some venues which are, by design, crowded and where it may prove difficult to enact distancing may still not be able to re-open safely at this point, or maybe able to open safely only in part”.
Stage 3 of the 5 phase plan can begin on the 4th of July at the earliest, however, this date could be postponed further based on scientific advice. Although the 5 phase plan has preliminary dates set, these may change depending on the success of each step. If we see a second spike in infections, the NHS begins to struggle with the demand, and death rates rise, the dates will be pushed further back.
The government’s strategy says: “In England, the government may adjust restrictions in some regions before others: a greater risk in Cornwall should not lead to disproportionate restrictions in Newcastle if the risk is lower.”
Although the government in England has announced the preliminary dates for museums reopening, the Welsh and Scottish governments are yet to announce specific policies related to museums reopening.
