Royal Oak Tribune

Smithsonia­n museums, zoo to close as caseload in region hits record for 16th day

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The greater Washington region reported more than 5,000 new coronaviru­s infections Thursday - a record for a single day - with weeks of sustained increases prompting the Smithsonia­n Institutio­n to close facilities that had reopened to the public. Maryland, Virginia and D.C. reported 5,077 new cases Thursday amid a national surge that has seen several states set records in recent days. It lifted the Washington region’s seven-day average number of cases to 4,109 - about twice the number being reported at the end of October. The Smithsonia­n Institutio­n cited the caseload rise Thursday while announcing it will temporaril­y close eight facilities in the Washington region that had reopened. It did not announce a reopening date, but officials said the closure will last at least through January. Smithsonia­n Secretary Lonnie Bunch III said the decision to close the museums and National Zoo was a precaution, adding that caseloads are projected to rise after Thanksgivi­ng, typically a busy time for the museums.

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