[May 14, 2020] Japanese Association of Museums

As infections of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to spread, many museums are endeavoring to control infections while also providing a broad range of information with the aim of fulfilling their role of enriching people’s lives even under such circumstances. The Japanese Association of Museums wishes to express its gratitude for their efforts.

Museums and art galleries were included among the facilities specified for opening, premised on their implementation of infection control measures, within the government’s policies for future responses associated with the emergency declaration’s recent extension. We view this as evidence of museums’ importance as social infrastructure and a good sign toward reopening.

Nonetheless, the situation remains severe and highly unpredictable. Thus, implementing all available means to control infections is essential as a prerequisite for each facility’s reopening.

The Guidelines presented here arrange basic actions that museums throughout Japan should implement to control the spread of COVID-19 infection with an eye to reopening their facilities based on the government’s policies.

As many types of museum exist, we anticipate that a more detailed version of these Guidelines may become necessary depending on the museum type. Moreover, we understand that the Guidelines may contain actions that individual facilities will find difficult to immediately accommodate or introduce depending on their circumstances. Implementing all of the actions presented is not mandatory for reopening. However, we hope that museums will, after taking basic steps to implement infection control, refer to them in their planning as recommended actions for enhancing the effects of those steps.

It is our hope that each museum will fully understand the necessity of implementing infection control measures to ensure the safety of its visitors and staff as it reopens its facilities, and effectively apply these Guidelines in implementing countermeasures at each facility.

View and download the Guidelines
[PDF] Guidelines for Controlling the Spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infections in Museums