Arizona Science Center Announces Temporary Closure Of Facilities

PHOENIX - March 16, 2020 - PRLog -- From the desk of Chevy Humphrey, The Hazel A. Hare President and CEO of Arizona Science Center:

We are a science learning institution that exists to inspire our community to embrace science. Right now, as we all work to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), we are following the science closely. The science tells us that the best course of action for the Science Center is to follow social distancing guidelines. From our conversations with international, national, and local science and health authorities, we understand that the information indicates that reducing social transmission is the best way to mitigate the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Our driving mission and instinct is to talk about science and everything that our society can learn from it in the unique and powerful venue from which we operate. At the same time, we are unwavering in our resolve to do what's in the best interest of our community, which is situated among some of the largest population centers, and where health experts are predicting more widespread transmission. The Centers for Disease Control recommends minimizing events with 50 or more people, a number that represents many fewer visitors than a routine day at Arizona Science Center.

We are already adapting our special content for schools and families to online formats that will be valuable during the COVID-19-related disruptions. We will be innovating relentlessly to deliver on our mission, no matter what, and to make the Science Center better than ever.

In an effort to be of continual service to our community, we will be launching a series of digital videos and content beginning the week of March 16. We will continue to assess the situation and keep you updated by email, on our website (https://www.azscience.org/) and through social media.

We will use this suspension of our public services to play a responsible community role in social distancing. We will learn and share the science and everything that our society can learn from it. In a time that is scary and uncertain for many in our community, we will seek to be a source of accurate information that can help save lives.

In addition, we will prepare the Science Center to serve our community face-to-face in the best way possible upon re-opening. During the weeks that Science Center operations are paused, we will conduct a deep cleaning of the entire Science Center, including staff offices. We will train employees—in a manner that practices social distancing methods—on the science of the virus and its implications. And we will make a thoughtful plan to stage and restore services.