A group of the 14 leading Portland-area museums and cultural attractions released a unified statement Thursday that masks would continue to be required for visitors and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The organizations united in the policy include the Architectural Heritage Center, Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, Five Oaks Museum, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Lan Su Chinese Garden, Oregon Coast Aquarium, Oregon Historical Society, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Oregon Zoo, Portland Art Museum, Portland Chinatown Museum, Pittock Mansion, and Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals.
“While our organizations have different missions, we share much in common,” read the statement, which was prepared by the Oregon Historical Society. “We are all community spaces where everyone can come together to learn and to deepen our understanding of the world we share. We all welcome visitors of all ages. And we all understand that the health and safety of our visitors, staffs, and volunteers must remain our top priority. For now, we agree that means continuing to require our visitors to wear masks.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released new masking guidance last week, which has caused confusion for many across the country. In some states, rules have changed masking rules completely, while others still have policies in place.