Museum News

Museum Statement on COVID-19

By March 12, 2020May 14th, 2021No Comments

The Museum is OPEN daily, regular hours.
Please note that the Kidzone and Fun Ride Fridays are closed/suspended indefinitely.

NOTICE: Pursuant to Executive Order 2020-586 of the Governor of Kentucky, face coverings must be worn inside any indoor public place in which six foot social distancing cannot be maintained from individuals who are not members of your household. NCM requires that all museum guests maintain appropriate social distancing at all times and if they are unable to do so, to wear a face covering. Thank you for your cooperation.

HOW THE MUSEUM IS PROTECTING GUESTS AND STAFF

The National Corvette Museum has always had guest and staff health and safety as a top priority. We have developed protocol and will continue to implement measures that are following the expertise of public health and industry professionals while being aligned with the CDC and WHO guidelines with regard to managing the coronavirus. Our proposal follows the Healthy at Work requirements that have been established by other sectors, including retail and restaurant, which we have both within the Museum.

This document contains the minimum requirements we are meeting, with opportunity to implement additional protocol as new recommendations are developed. The Museum has consulted with our local health department regarding customer interactions and no concerns were raised with our current plan.

Here are some details about the steps being taken to keep the workplace safe and address questions.

SCREENING PROTOCOLS

Staffing is being ramped up in phases, beginning with the facilities team who continue to ensure the building is cleaned and sanitized regularly according to CDC guidance, and assist in any additional staff and guest protective and social distancing measures. Staff have been provided with COVID-19 training.

Staffing numbers have been cut to allow for social distancing. Ticketing and retail stations are limited to one staff member per terminal.

Staff are screened each morning when they report to work, including a temperature check and are asked the following questions:

  • Have you experienced any of the CDC-recognized COVID-19 symptoms?
  • Is there anyone in your household who is showing COVID-19 symptoms, or who has been diagnosed with COVID-19?
  • Have you been in close contact with anyone exhibiting signs or symptoms of fever, persistent cough or shortness of breath consistent with COVID-19 who has not been tested or is still awaiting testing?

Staff have been instructed to stay home if they are feeling sick or come in contact with someone who has been ill. Staff have reported (and will continue to report) any known connections to people with COVID. Staff have self-quarantined as needed or required.

Staff are required to perform temperature checks prior to reporting to work. The Museum will also perform no-contact checks for those who have not already done so, and will continue taking temperatures of staff as needed. Any positive tests are to be reported to the health department.

Staff meetings greater than 10 persons have been cancelled until further notice. Meetings with fewer people are socially distanced. Most updates are conducted via email. Weekly emails are sent reiterating guidelines and providing any updates.

Staff have completed COVID-19 training.

Healthy-at-work Officer has been appointed and completed training.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

Full-time hourly staff who do not feel comfortable working at the Museum and are unable to work from home are encouraged to use sick/vacation time or take unpaid time off.

Part-time hourly staff who do not feel comfortable working at the Museum and are unable to work from home can take unpaid time off or use sick/vacation time if available.

Hourly staff members (many of our public and customer-facing positions) who do not feel comfortable working can take unpaid time off, use sick/vacation time (if available) or file for unemployment if they feel they are eligible for those benefits.  Employees are asked to check with their supervisor if they are unsure whether or not they fall into this category.  All decisions regarding unemployment are made by the Office of Unemployment Insurance.

Higher risk visitors are encouraged to visit early in the morning to enjoy smaller crowd sizes. Recommended tour time window is 8am – 9:30am CT.

PPE

  • Gloves and reusable cloth face masks are provided to staff. Staff working in public areas are encouraged to utilize gloves and masks. Staff behind the scenes are encouraged to use gloves when accessing public areas.
  • Disposable masks are made available to visitors for those who would like one and did not bring one.
  • Sneeze guard barriers are implemented in person to person contact transaction areas.
  • Staff are reminded to follow the CDC personal hygiene guidelines with frequent hand-washing encouraged, and hand sanitizer abundantly available in the workplace.

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING

  • Museum facilities team has implemented increased frequency of cleaning/disinfecting of touch-points to a minimum of two times per day.
  • Break and food consumption areas are cleaned at a minimum, before and after each break period.
  • Clearly identified hand-washing and hand sanitizing stations, making sure supplies are sufficient and constantly restocked, including adequate waste management.
  • Increase the exchange frequency or disinfection of personal protective equipment prone to accumulate germs or bacteria such as safety gloves.
  • Hand sanitizer provided throughout the Museum. Touch points are regularly cleaned throughout each day.
  • KidZone, Corvette Cafe, dressing rooms, guided tours, Fun Ride Fridays are suspended for an undetermined amount of time.
  • Water fountains are closed.
  • Restroom exterior doors have been propped open to eliminate the need to touch.  Office entry doors are also propped open to eliminate the need to touch.
  • Exterior entry doors continually sanitized, handicap accessible doors assist in minimizing touch points.

SOCIAL DISTANCING AND CAPACITY PROTOCOLS

  • Extra measures have been implemented to meet social distancing standards.
  • Staffing levels have been adjusted to prevent excessive accumulation of employees.
  • Any seating areas have been modified to promote social distancing of six feet.
  • No hand shaking or other social gestures that require touching each other.
  • Minimization of the number of people that each individual interacts with.
  • Exhibit areas feature a one-way flow with social distancing reminders placed on the floors throughout the facility.
  • Limited number of guests for Museum entry per hour with appropriate spacing measures illustrated throughout the building and following the recommended number of people per square foot.
  • Designated staging areas and a non-communal area. The Museum’s Safety/Security team monitors guest numbers and the following of protocol.
  • Capacity numbers have been determined for each area of the Museum so that any restrictions can be adhered to.
  • Continual monitoring of exhibit galleries to make sure social distancing is adhered to.

COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION

  • Continuous messaging to educate around symptoms, etiquette, social distancing, reporting and other preventative measures.
  • Signage / awareness posters at entry points, customer transaction points and hand sanitizing stations.
  • Public address announcements reminding guests to socially distance and follow CDC recommendations.
  • Signage placed in restrooms reminding guests and staff of proper hand washing.
  • Proper protocols and requirements communicated on social media, website and all printable advance tickets.
  • As guests enter, staff will provide a quick reminder of proper protocol.

CORVETTE CAFÉ PROTOCOLS

  • Paperless transaction terminals.
  • Guests will be encouraged to use credit/debit cards.
  • Corvette Café menus have been removed and replaced with tv monitor menu boards.
  • Tabletop condiments have been removed from the Café and individual condiment packets are available.
  • Guests are provided with all disposable products at the register.
  • Washable utensils, plates, trays, etc. are no longer in use.  All products are disposable.
  • Dine-in seating will be restricted to current recommended percentage occupancies. The initial 33% is a capacity of 29 guests indoors. Outdoor seating is also available, with tables being relocated to provide additional social distancing and regularly cleaned/sanitized.
  • Limited staff will be utilized in the Café to provide optimal social distancing, typically one at the register and one or two in the kitchen.
  • Acrylic barriers are set up at the register.
  • Social distancing stickers are placed on the floor for the line que.
  • Continuous disinfection of touch points.
  • Guests who are not from the same household are not permitted to dine together per Governor Andy Bashear mandate.
  • Table delivery suspended, as well as pager system. Guests will be called by number to pick up their food.
  • A certified Food Manager will be on staff at all times and monitoring proper sanitizing and food preparation.
  • Carry-out/Delivery food will be protected with tamper proof labels/seals.
  • Catered buffet meals suspended, replaced with individual plated dishes in disposable serving containers.

CORVETTE STORE PROTOCOLS

  • Guests will be encouraged to use credit/debit cards.
  • Online shopping with curbside pickup is available.
  • Limited capacity in Store, following required percentages.
  • Shopping baskets have been removed from the Corvette Store.
  • Acrylic barriers are set up at the register.
  • Social distancing stickers are placed on the floor for the line que.
  • Changing rooms have been closed.
  • Continuous disinfection of counters and high touch areas.
  • Returns are not will not be permitted.
  • Only one staff member per work station.

MUSEUM EXHIBIT PROTOCOLS

  • Vulnerable population hours are 8-9am CT daily.
  • Population density in the Museum will be monitored and controlled by our on-site Healthy at Work and Security officer.
  • Sneeze barriers provided at all terminals with only one staff person per terminal.
  • Paperless transaction terminals are offered for admissions.
  • Guests will be encouraged to use credit/debit cards, with advanced online ticket purchases available and also encouraged, providing a no-touch option.
  • Admission wristbands, brochures and tour maps have been removed and will not be used for the foreseeable future. A QR code is available to scan to access the tour map.
  • Guests will be encouraged to wear face masks, with complimentary masks provided for those who do not have one.
  • Touch screens are disabled and converted to looping graphics.
  • The KidZone is closed for the foreseeable future.
  • The Museum flow of traffic is one way. Signage directs guests of that flow with social distancing decals interspersed on the floor.
  • Hand sanitizer is available throughout the exhibit areas. Three restrooms with hand washing facilities are also available within the galleries.
  • Any benches/seating within the galleries do not have arm rests and will be regularly cleaned.
  • A dedicated member of the facilities team cleans/disinfects all touch points a minimum of twice daily. It is possible to enjoy the full Museum tour experience without touching any surface.
  • Guided public tours have been suspended.  Private guided tours have fewer than 10 family members in them. Social distancing between guide and group is maintained.