Topic overview
In brief
- The Exploratorium in San Francisco will require masks for visitors and staff during a special session on August 22, 2026.
- This decision is in response to rising COVID-19 transmission rates in the Bay Area.
- The museum aims to create a safer experience for immunocompromised guests, despite the lack of scientific support for the mask requirement.
Summary
In the United States, specifically in San Francisco, the Exploratorium museum has announced a temporary reinstatement of a mask requirement for a special event scheduled for August 22, 2026. This decision comes as COVID-19 transmission rates have been rising in the Bay Area, with increased virus concentrations noted at regional sewage treatment plants since late July. The museum aims to provide a safer experience for immunocompromised guests during a two-hour early-access session from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., before its regular Saturday hours. Attendance will be limited, and free masks will be provided to visitors.
Rachel Hyden, the senior director of visitor engagement at the Exploratorium, stated that the museum is responsive to visitor feedback, and many have expressed interest in a designated mask-required experience. The internal committee at the museum is dedicated to creating inclusive experiences that go beyond legal requirements. All galleries, including the summer exhibition titled 'Life in Space,' will remain open during this mask-required session. After 11 a.m., the museum will revert to its regular hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and masks will no longer be mandatory for visitors.