[BCMA] COVID-19 and Public Health Orders Update – April 8, 2021

Thu Apr 8 10:21:02 PDT 2021

Hello everyone,

COVID-19 cases are surging in British Columbia despite province-wide
vaccination efforts. While the end of the pandemic is on the horizon, it is
critical that all British Columbians work together to prevent the spread of
new COVID-19 variants to buy the time required for the vaccines to protect
our communities.

At this time, public health orders (PHOs) permit museums, galleries, and
cultural organizations to be open to the public, but we urge members to
make decisions that they believe are in the best interest of their staff,
volunteers, and community.

We will continue to monitor the latest public health updates and stay in
contact with our partners in government and will notify members immediately
if the current rules and guidelines change. We recommend visiting Worksafe
BC
<https://www.worksafebc.com/en/covid-19/industry-specific-information/arts-and-cultural-facilities>
for the latest information on PHOs that affect the museum sector.

Under the current orders
<https://www.worksafebc.com/en/covid-19/industry-specific-information/arts-and-cultural-facilities>
(last updated March 12, 2021) museums, galleries, and cultural
organizations must:

   - Cancel or restrict group visits, guided tours, public programs, and
   special or private events in excess of 50 patrons, in accordance with the
   provincial health officer’s order on gatherings and events
   <https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/covid-19/covid-19-pho-order-gatherings-events.pdf>
   .
   - For groups of fewer than 50 patrons, ensure there is adequate space in
   your facility to accommodate the group. See the COVID-19 Safety Plan
   <https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/health-safety/checklist/covid-19-safety-plan?lang=en>
   for guidance on establishing occupancy limits.
   - Consider allowing access by appointment to ensure occupancy limits are
   followed.
   - Consider ways to limit the exchange of paper products. Provide
   information to visitors via websites, provide online ticket sales, and
   provide digital visitor guides and programs.
   - Manage the flow of people by implementing one-way walkways or marking
   off designated walking areas.
   - Provide physical barriers at admissions and gift shop counters. Reuse
   exhibition materials such as plexiglass display cases to create barriers
   where the physical distancing requirement cannot be maintained.
   - Consider self-guided tours or phone applications based on self-guided
   tours.
   - Develop a system where customers can call docents from their cell
   phones while on the property to get specific questions answered without the
   docents and customers having to be face-to-face. Install desk phones at
   docent stations to facilitate this capability.
   - Wash your hands using good hygiene practices after touching common
   items.
   - Install touchless, no-contact audio-visual displays (triggered by
   physical distance, RFID, or similar technology).
   - Prohibit the use of high-touch displays through signage or physical
   barriers. If they remain in use, consider the following controls:
   - Install hand sanitizing stations near displays
   - Increase the cleaning frequency of all touch displays
   - Restrict or limit personal items being stored in coatrooms, baggage
   holding areas, etc.
   - Control access to entry points for workers, customers, and deliveries.
   Consider having limited points of entry. If you have more than one door,
   considering designating doors for entry and exit.
   - Provide hand sanitizing stations at all facility entryways for
   everyone to use.
   - Post COVID-19 protocols using signage for both workers and customers
   throughout your facility.
   - Consider creating cohorts of workers who work together and who do not
   interact with other cohorts. This will assist in reducing transmission
   throughout the workplace in the event that a staff member becomes ill.
   - Increase the circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening
   windows and doors.

With the rise of more contagious variants and the third wave of COVID-19
cases in British Columbia, you may decide to introduce even more stringent
measures to protect the safety of your staff, volunteers, and community.
Until the current curve begins to flatten, you may wish to have your staff
and volunteers work from home and shift your museum’s operations online.

*If there are supports and resources that the BCMA can provide at this
time, please do not hesitate to reach out (bcma at museum.bc.ca
<bcma at museum.bc.ca>). *

To help you shift online, the BCMA has curated the following resources
(past webinar recordings are available free of charge to BCMA members):

   - BCMA Guidelines for Moving Your Site Online During COVID-19
   <https://museum.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Guidelines-for-Moving-Your-Site-Online-During-COVID-September-29.pdf>
   - Considerations When Closing Your Site During COVID-19
   <https://museum.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BCMA-Closing-Guidelines-September-29.pdf>
   - Supporting Seasonal Staff During COVID-19
   <https://saskmuseums.org/files/Supporting_Seasonal_Staff_During_COVID-19.pdf>
   - Webinar: Exploring Digital Field Trips
   <https://museum.bc.ca/brain/webinar-exploring-digital-field-trips/>
   - Webinar: Virtual Exhibits – Engagement and Accessibility
   <https://museum.bc.ca/brain/webinar-virtual-exhibits-engagement-and-accessibility/>
   - Webinar: Events and Programs Re-imagined for the Digital Landscape
   <https://museum.bc.ca/brain/webinar-events-and-programs-digital-landscape/>
   - Webinar: Building Online Resources that Last
   <https://museum.bc.ca/brain/webinar-online-resources-that-last/>
   - Webinar: Zoom 101 – An introduction and tips and tricks
   <https://museum.bc.ca/brain/webinar-zoom-101/>
   - Webinar: Fundraising in a Post-Pandemic World
   <https://museum.bc.ca/brain/webinar-fundraising-post-pandemic-world/>

If you would like to connect with your peers for fun, informal conversation
during this isolating time, consider attending Watercooler Wednesdays
<https://museum.bc.ca/event-list/?eid=20> (the first Wednesday of the
month) or Museum Manager Mondays <https://museum.bc.ca/event-list/?eid=29>
(the third Monday of the month).

*Ryan Hunt*
Executive Director
Pronouns: He/him To learn why pronouns are important, click here
<https://equity.ubc.ca/resources/gender-diversity/pronouns/>

The BC Museums Association office is located on the traditional, unceded
lands of the Lekwungen <https://vimeo.com/275788251> peoples (Songhees and
Xwsepsum Nations). We respect past, present, and future Indigenous stewards
and recognize that we are uninvited guests on this territory.

BC Museums Association || 675 Belleville Street  || Victoria, BC || V8W 9W2

Direct: 250-884-0499 || Office: 250-356-5700  || www.museum.bc.ca

Check out the BCMA's new online learning portal: www.museum.bc.ca
<http://www.museum.bc.ca>
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