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Vaccine passports now necessary to enter Pitt Meadows Museum

New COVID protocols in place at museum for protection against Omicron variant
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The Pitt Meadows Museum has revised COVID-19 protocols for 2022. (The NEWS/files)

Vaccine passports will now have to be shown to enter the Pitt Meadows Museum after COVID-19 protocols were updated for visitors in the new year.

After a three week closure over the holidays the policies were updated to reflect the rising number of cases in the community and to protect visitors, staff, and volunteers.

“We are just responding to the Omicron variant that’s so transmissible,” said museum curator Leslie Norman.

Up until now visitors to the museum have not had to show a vaccine passport because museums haven’t been required.

“It’s been optional,” explained Norman.

But, anyone aged 12 and above will be required to show their vaccine passport for at least the next “number” of weeks until the wave of the Omicron variant is crested, and things get better, she said.

This is also the first time the museum has posted right to their website their COVID protocols for the public.

Mask wearing is mandatory for visitors aged 5 and older, names and contact information will be collected at the door for contact tracing, mandatory hand sanitizing is required before entry, and patrons are being asked not to touch items when in the museum, except the limited number of Pioneer gadgets that will be available.

Entry to the museum will be limited to half the average capacity, or about 12 visitors at a single time. And social distancing will be in place and museum staff may have to ask visitors to move in order to maintain distances between people.

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Organized tours have been cancelled until further notice. And those wanting to access the Community Archives will need to book an appointment by email.

Starting in February Museum Sundays that run between 1-3 p.m. will be starting up again, however only two cohorts of four people will be able to work on their kits at the museum. Other participants are welcome to pick up a kit, by donation to the museum, to do at home, said Norman.

“Each week there will be something different,” she added, noting that those wanting to participate should keep an eye on their Facebook page to learn what the kit of the week is.

Norman is not planning for any special events this year. April’s Heritage Reunion Tea won’t be taking place – again. This year was supposed to mark the three decade old tea’s grand finale. However, Norman is hopeful they will be able to schedule it for 2023.

The most important thing Norman wants to point out is that they are open.

“And we’re happy for people to come through and visit,” she said.

Pitt Meadows Museum is open every Wednesday and Thursday from 11-4 p.m. and on Sunday from 1-4 p.m., but will be subject to closures at any time if “reduced staff levels necessitate it.”

For more information on the museum go to pittmeadowsmuseum.com.


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Colleen Flanagan

About the Author: Colleen Flanagan

I got my start with Black Press Media in 2003 as a photojournalist.
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