Like many businesses across the country, the United States Mint is taking measure to slow the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. On Friday, the Mint announced that the public tours offered at the Denver and Philadelphia Mint locations would be suspended. No time line was provided on when these tours would be resumed. In addition, gift shops at both the Denver and Philadelphia Mints have been closed as has the Coin Store in Washington, D.C.
The United States Mint (Mint) is temporarily closing public tours of its facilities in Philadelphia and Denver beginning Monday, March 16. The Denver and Philadelphia Mint gift shops and the Washington, DC coin store will also be temporarily closed. This action is being taken to reduce the risk of Mint employees’ exposure to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
United States Mint
Mint Director David J. Ryder indicated that, while no Mint employee had tested positive for the virus, the plan to close these public facing locations was done out of an abundance of caution.
the health and safety of the Mint workforce is my highest priority. Many Mint employees interact with visitors from throughout the country and the world as tours are conducted. Public health officials are still learning about how COVID-19 spreads, so out of an abundance of caution, I have decided it is prudent to close our tours, gift shops and coin store. I understand this is an inconvenience to people who were looking forward to seeing how we mint our nation’s coins and medals, but my employees and their well-being are my greatest concern. We intend for this to be a temporary rather than a permanent closure. The Mint will continue to fulfill its mission of protecting our nation’s strategic assets and producing trusted currency, while also taking appropriate precautions given current public health risks.
United States Mint Director David J. Ryder
The news on Friday from the Mint was one of the first in a rapidly increasing number of closures of offices, schools, bars, restaurants and other public places as the United States comes to grips with the pandemic. Over the weekend, the number of cases here in the United States increased from just over 2,000 to over 3,700. The spike and guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has prompted many of these closures with many across the country in either imposed or self-imposed quarantine.