The National Museum of Australia has become the latest national institution to close its doors due to coronavirus.
The closure came into effect from midday on Monday and the museum will be closed until further notice.
"The health and safety of our community are very important to us and the decision complies with the National Cabinet's direction to limit non-essential gatherings and the requirement to implement social distancing, to help mitigate the risk posed by the virus," a museum spokesman said.
All public programs at the museum have been cancelled, including its virtual reality and Kspace attractions.
The closure has also impacted the April opening of the museum's exhibition Endeavour Voyage: The Untold Stories of Cook and the First Australians, which will be held at a later date.
Those who have planned to attend the museum for a conference or event have been urged to contact organisers.
"In this difficult time, our thoughts are with our loyal museum community and we thank you all for your support and understanding," the spokesman said.
"The museum's cafe and onsite shop are closed but please visit our online shop, which continues to operate."
The spokesman said staff were looking to bring many of the museum's exhibits online.
- For information on COVID-19, please go to the ACT Health website or federal Health Department's website.
- You can also call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
- If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000)
We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you're looking to stay up to date on COVID-19, you can also sign up for our twice-daily digest here. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.
