President Karen R. Lawrence Regarding COVID-19

March 12, 2020

As we make decisions regarding The Huntington's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety of our staff, volunteers, scholars, members, and visitors is of paramount concern. Following health agency advice, we are taking a number of precautions, including regularly wiping down commonly touched surfaces and providing easy access to hand sanitizer.

Moreover, we have canceled all public events through May 31 in an effort to respond to the need for social distancing. However, at this time, our library exhibition halls, art galleries, and botanical gardens remain open, as we know that in stressful times, they have been a place of immense respite and restoration. The 120 acres of gardens at The Huntington, in particular, provide spaces where healthy visitors can easily enjoy our collections while observing social distancing recommendations. We invite you to stroll through our gardens, taking advantage of the blossoming landscape. Because this is a fluid situation, we recommend that you consult our website or social media platforms before visiting.

For the safety of our entire Huntington community, we ask that you:

• Stay at home when sick and seek medical attention when needed.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Cough into a tissue and immediately dispose of it.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid shaking hands and instead use an alternative greeting protocol.

Thank you for your interest in, and support of, The Huntington.

Karen Lawrence, President