PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Berkshire Museum has temporarily closed  after becoming aware of a positive COVID-19 case within the building.

 

Museum staff made the decision to close Sunday after learning someone who had recently been on site had tested positive for the Coronavirus. All visitors with reservations during the closure will be contacted by the museum to reschedule or refund their tickets.

 

The Museum will reopen Thursday, March 18

 

Museum staff were notified the afternoon of Sunday, March 14 that an individual who had recently been on site tested positive for COVID-19. Visitors, staff, and contractors who may have interacted with the individual will be contacted and their information will be shared with the Pittsfield Board of Health to aid in contact tracing efforts. During the closure, the museum will undergo a thorough cleaning to sanitize the facility from top to bottom.

 

"As more people are vaccinated and we start to see the light at the end of this tunnel it is important that we all stay vigilant," said Berkshire Museum Executive Director Jeff Rodgers. "We continue to prioritize the health and safety of our visitors, our staff, and the contractors working to renovate our building. And if that means shutting down operations for a few days, that's what we will do."

 

Before this brief closure, the museum was open by reservation as it continues its phased plan for a safe reopening which began Aug. 1, 2020. The museum had briefly closed Dec. 3 and 4, when it learned that someone who had recently been on site tested positive for COVID-19. All reopening plans are subject to change pending state and local guidance. Updates will be shared at berkshiremuseum.org and through the museum's social media channels.

 

The museum continues to provide access to virtual exhibitions, stories from its collections, educational activities, and more as part of Berkshire Museum@Home at explore.berkshiremuseum.org. The digital museum experience was created to spark curiosity and bring people together remotely as the museum began its first pandemic closure in March 2020. To date, more than 350 videos, articles, podcasts, activities, virtual exhibitions, and online events have been added to the site.