White House Public Tours Are Scheduled to Resume on September 12
After nearly six months of temporarily closing its doors to visitors amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the White House plans to resume public tours starting Saturday, September 12.
First Lady Melania Trump's office made the announcement on Tuesday. "In order to ensure the safety and health of all visitors, there have been new policies implemented that align with the guidance issued by Federal, State, and local officials," the news release reads. Changes guests can expect include limited hours and reduced capacity. The tours will be hosted two days a week instead of five. They'll take place on Friday and Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The number of guests will be limited to 18 percent of the normal capacity.
There will also be new safety precautions for visitors taking the public tours. Guests will be required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing during their visit. To help maintain physical distancing during the check-in process, there will be distancing dots on the ground. National Park Service, U.S. Secret Service Officers, and Visitors Office staff working the tour will also be required to wear face coverings. The staff will also need to wear gloves. Plus, there will be hand sanitizer available at multiple locations.
While the White House public tours are set to resume, the U.S. Capitol building's public tours remain closed, and many museums in D.C. are also still closed indefinitely.
Want a more in-depth look at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? Michael S. Smith's new book takes you inside the Obama White House.
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