ST. LOUIS, MO (KMOX/AP) - The St. Louis Art Museum is expected to reopen this week.
The attraction has been closed due to a surge of positive COVID cases among staff, and the spread of the Omicron variant in the community. The Museum website says the facility will open again February 1st.
The St. Louis Science Center also temporarily closed in recent weeks due to COVID. The website says it plans to reopen this Thursday, February 3rd.
COVID-19 cases have been declining in the St. Louis area over the past couple weeks but the number of patients in hospitals remain near the highest levels of the pandemic.
“Our hospitals remain full, our emergency departments are full and there’s not a lot of room in our (intensive care units) either,” said Dr. Alex Garza, co-director of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force. “So, although this is improving, many of our staff continue to be out because of COVID or because they are taking care of a loved one or a child whose school has unfortunately closed because of COVID.”
Hospitals across Missouri are asking staff members and administrators to take on additional duties to help deal with the current surge in COVID-19 patients.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that hospital employees are being asked to pick up shifts helping nurses by doing things like grabbing supplies or answering phones, or by filling absences in areas such housekeeping and patient transport.
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