Updated March 20, 2020

From The President & Executive Director

Dear Members, Patrons, and Partners, 

Despite the LASM's temporary closure, to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19, our work continues. To help reduce regression during the temporary school closures, we are providing families and K-12 students virtual access to our regularly scheduled programs, and new programs as they become available. To access these free services, click here.

Mesmerica 360, which was expected to debut in Baton Rouge at LASM's Irene W. Pennington Planetarium in late March, is being postponed for a later time, as yet to be determined. Refunds or credits are being issued for advance payments made for postponed events. 

Declines in tourism, declines in local attendance, and increases in social distancing and quarantines are having a devastating impact on the Museum, which operates on thin margins of financial sustainability. As a 501c3 nonprofit organization that depends upon the charity of others to sustain programming, we invite you to consider making a tax-deductible charitable donation to support our efforts. To make a secure online donation, please visit LASM's Network For Good page.

On a weekly basis, we will assess resuming public admissions as soon as the risk to public health has declined. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Louisiana Art & Science Museum in the near future. From our LASM family to yours, we wish you wellness and look forward to seeing you soon.

 

Respectfully, 

Serena Pandos

President & Executive Director

Louisiana Art & Science Museum

***

 

ENGINEERING DAY UPDATE:

LASM has decided to postpone Engineering Day 2020, originally scheduled to be held on Saturday, March 14. As this large public gathering potentially attracting up to 1,000 visitors could result in the spread of the virus, LASM is taking every precaution necessary to mitigate this concern. LASM will remain open to the general public on Saturday, March 14. This decision was made amid concerns about COVID-19, in light of the State of Public Health Emergency in Louisiana, and in cooperation with Governor Edwards and Mayor Broome. 

Please check this page for updates on this rapidly-evolving situation.

In response to COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum is proactively and strictly adhering to the recommendations set forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). We are committed to keeping the public, our employees, and the community at large healthy.

Steps LASM has taken to prevent the risk of infection: 

Continuously maintaining a clean environment, increasing the frequency that surfaces are cleaned both in spaces accessible to the public and in employee-only areas in addition to our nightly deep cleaning regimen 

Posted signage in every restroom and water fountain area with information about proper hand-washing as advised by the CDC and WHO 

In line with the CDC’s recommendations, LASM employees have been advised to: 

Stay home if they have respiratory symptoms (coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath) and/or a temperature above 100.4 degrees F, and leave work if they develop these symptoms at LASM

Shield coughs and sneezes with a tissue, elbow, or shoulder (not bare hands)

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol

Stay home following international travel, only returning to work after 14 symptom-free days. After voluntary international travel, employees are required to provide documentation from a medical professional indicating that they are not infectious. 

Things you can do to help prevent the risk of infection:

Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or with a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol

Avoid touching eyes, mouth, face, or nose with unwashed hands

Avoid close contact with people who appear sick

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the crook of your arm when sneezing or coughing (also known as the "vampire cough"), disposing of the tissue after use

Stay home and away from others if you or your family members are feeling ill

Helpful hints:

Avoiding shaking hands can help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. An “elbow bump” or “footshake” can go a long way! For a video demonstrating these alternative greetings, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2-Yui6PdWI

Some songs that you can sing in your head while washing your hands to get up to 20 seconds are:

“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”

“Happy Birthday” twice

“Africa” by Toto chorus

“Jolene” by Dolly Parton chorus

“Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield chorus

Graphics:

      

             

Resources: 

Handwashing info from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html

Handwashing video from CDC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d914EnpU4Fo

Up-to-Date Information about COVID-19 from WHO: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Advice to public regarding COVID-19: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public