The State Hermitage informs

The wellbeing of visitors, staff and volunteers is one of our foremost concerns. The State Hermitage has attentively followed and continues to follow the development of the situation around the spread of the coronavirus. A working group has been created to assess the situation, take decisions and provide safety within the museum. The first order on measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases was issued in the Hermitage as far back as 6 February. At the present moment, a crisis management plan has been drawn up that includes possible variants for the museum’s operation in the event of the situation worsening.

The Hermitage is not planning to hold any mass cultural events with more than 1,000 participants in the near future. The number of people admitted to the museum complex is being regulated by the Museum Security Service and by technical means that prevent large concentrations of visitors.

The Hermitage is trying not to alter its exhibition plans. At present, we are planning that all our exhibitions will open in accordance with the previously established timetable, but new exhibitions will not have formal opening ceremonies with invited guests.

All plans for official travel by have been corrected by an order across the State Hermitage. The museum is not planning to send members of staff on trips outside Russia in the near future. Staff who have returned and are due to return from abroad will compulsorily undergo a period of self-isolation and work remotely. Gatherings and working meetings will be held remotely (virtually). All members of staff whose work brings them into contact with visitors have been provided with protective masks.

The already thorough cleaning of the museum has been further intensified. In accordance with the order of 6 February 2020, the relevant museum services and the cleaning companies that work on the museum premises are carrying out preventative measures against influenza and the new coronavirus. The arrangements for the disinfection of entrance zones, public passageways, staircases, lift cabins, catering premises, toilets and other areas have been stepped up. Special disinfectants are being used in those places. Prior to the receipt of recommendations from Rospotrebnadzor (the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing), disinfection measures were being carried out every 3–4 hours, at present that interval has been reduced to 2 hours. The disinfection process is being particularly carefully monitored in sales outlets and catering facilities for both staff and visitors.

Despite the difficult circumstances, the museum is remaining open. A comparative analysis of data on the State Hermitage’s visitor numbers for the period from 2 January to 12 March 2020 and the comparable period in 2019 shows that the overall total is down this year by 8.9%. The number of visitors who bought tickets at the special concessionary rate for citizens of the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus has dropped by 5%, while the number of visitors entering with free-of-charge tickets is down by 5.6%. This is evidence that pre-schoolers, schoolchildren and students, as well as pensioners from Russia remain one of the main social groups within the museum’s audience. The Hermitage does not record its visitors’ country of origin.

The Hermitage is in constant contact with colleagues in museums worldwide and is exchanging information and experience with them. At present museums in the majority of European countries and the USA are closing to the public.

The Hermitage apologizes for possible inconveniences that may be caused by the further development of the situation and requests that would-be visitors consult the museum’s official website or social network pages to obtain the latest information.

Regarding events for the media, please contact the Press Service of the State Hermitage.