Shanghai museums, galleries take precautions against virus

Museums, galleries and libraries in Shanghai took measures to reduce the risk of the new coronavirus from spreading on Thursday, as the city has reported 16 confirmed and 22 suspected cases of viral pneumonia as of Jan 23.

According to a disease control notice posted on the website of Shanghai Museum, it will shorten opening hours from 9 am to 5 pm to 9 am to 3 pm and lower the maximum number of visitors from 8,000 to 5,000.

The restaurant and a teahouse inside the museum also suspended operation, cancelled all group visits and will not accept group reservations.

The museum will close if the virus continues to spread in the city, it said.

Similar measures were also taken by Shanghai Science and Technology Museum and Shanghai Natural History Museum, both of which close from Jan 22 to Jan 24 for maintenance.

Shanghai Library issued notice it will require a temperature check for each visitor, and if one has a temperature higher than 37.5 degree Celsius accompanied by symptoms such as coughing and sneezing, it will request him or her to seek treatment at designated hospitals.

The library will close the exhibition area from Jan 24 to Jan 30 and postpone other public events.

Galleries such as the China Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai will deploy temperature checks, and the Long Museum will close from Jan 24 to 30.