- Title: Washington, D.C. closes most tourist attractions
- Date: 13th March 2020
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MARCH 13, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CREW ROLLING UP CARPET ON KENNEDY CENTER STAGE FOR OPERA 'PRISM' WHICH WAS DUE TO PREMIER IN D.C. CREW REMOVING SET PIECES (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH F. RUTTER, PRESIDENT THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, SAYING: "We knew we just had to close it down. It is really sad. It is really tough for our patrons, artists and our staff but we really think it's the most important thing to do to be a part of this larger effort to contain this virus." EXTERIOR OF KENNEDY CENTER SIGN OUTSIDE KENNEDY CENTER ANNOUNCING CLOSURE EXTERIOR OF KENNEDY CENTER WITH POSTER ADVERTISING PERFORMANCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH F. RUTTER, PRESIDENT THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, SAYING: "Anybody who has a ticket between now and the 31st of March has the ability either through email or through telephone to be in touch with our ticket office. They can decide to exchange to a future performance; they can decide to put it into a gift certificate so that they can come to a future performance at their leisure. They can make a contribution back to the Kennedy Center." CREW REMOVING TAPE FROM STAGE FLOOR FOR PRISM CREW PACKING UP EQUIPMENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBORAH F. RUTTER, PRESIDENT THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, SAYING: "The financial impact is, is yet to be known exactly. I will tell you that just through March 31, we probably have around 4 million dollars at risk, either through refunds or a big gala we were going to have." VARIOUS OF CREW CARRYING OUT RUG CREW REMOVING FURNITURE NATIONAL MALL WITH WASHINGTON MONUMENT IN REAR MAN JOGGING IN MALL SMITHSONIAN CASTLE PEOPLE WALKING ON MALL WITH FLAGS IN BACKGROUND PAN FROM SIGN READING 'LINE STARTS HERE' WITH NO ONE STANDING THERE TO EXTERIOR OF U.S. CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING INTO NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF NATIONAL ZOO WITH U.S. FLAG CLOSED UP KIOSK AT NATIONAL ZOO TOURISTS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAM MATTHEWS, ENGLISH TOURIST FROM BRIGHTON, SAYING: "It's disappointing but you've got to look at the grand scheme of things. If it contains a pandemic, then I think it's quite reasonable to close the zoo for a bit." PEOPLE WALKING IN ZOO (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAM MATTHEWS, ENGLISH TOURIST FROM BRIGHTON, SAYING: "For me, the virus is mostly affecting people that are in poor health. I'm young and I'm relatively healthy so there's not really a concern for me. It would just be like having the flu for a bit. It would be inconvenient but it's not the end of the world. So yeah, it's a little bit disappointing that not everything I want to see on my holiday is available but in the grand scheme of things, it's fine." PEOPLE WALKING IN ZOO (SOUNDBITE) (English) KRISTIN DEMAURO, TOURIST FROM BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES, SAYING: "We actually were on the fence about coming but when we heard that the zoo was still open, we decided to still travel. Today is the last day it's open so we got lucky and it's a beautiful day." JOURNALIST OFF-CAMERA: Anything else you're going to be seeing in D.C.? DEMAURO: We had planned to go into D.C. to see some of the monuments tomorrow, but with everything closing and people being concerned about being in large groups, we're probably not going to go. We're actually probably going to head home a day early." FAMILIES SITTING AND EATING AT ZOO (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAREN MAJORS, VISITOR FROM EMITTSBURG MARYLAND, SAYING: "It's a disappointment that a lot of public gatherings and spaces are going to be closed but it makes a lot of sense for public health and safety. So I think everybody just has to stay calm and take it in stride." PEOPLE WALKING PAST PANDA EXHIBIT AT THE ZOO KENDRA ALLEN AND HER DAUGHTER WALKING IN ZOO (SOUNDBITE) (English) KENDRA ALLEN, TOURIST FROM DALLAS, TEXAS, UNITED STATES, SAYING: "So we had a White House tour that got canceled yesterday. And we're going home tomorrow so, but it's very sad that everything's closing." JOURNALIST OFF-CAMERA: 'Do you think it makes sense or do you think it's an overreaction?' ALLEN: "I honestly think everything's been an overreaction. We went to the grocery store this morning and couldn't even get anything. Yeah, so, I think it's a little bit crazy." (SOUNDBITE) (English) GIGI PLISGA, 11-YEAR-OLD, TOURIST FROM DALLAS, TEXAS, UNITED STATES, SAYING: "So we went to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and all the interactions were closed so it wasn't as fun as it is for kids because you couldn't touch anything or do anything. So it wasn't that fun. JOURNALIST OFF-CAMERA: And this is your first time in D.C.? PLISGA: Yes JOURNALIST OFF-CAMERA: So you'll just have to come back? PLISGA: Yes EXTERIOR OF U.S. CAPITOL VARIOUS OF WOMEN WALKING PAST U.S. CAPITOL AND TAKING SELFIE
- Embargoed: 27th March 2020 22:15
- Keywords: Kennedy Center closed coronavirus national mall tourists zoo closed
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C4W116V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: As U.S. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over the fast-spreading coronavirus, much of Washington, D.C.'s tourist sites have announced they would close.
In Washington, D.C., officials closed the U.S. Capitol complex to the public after a staffer for a senator from Washington State tested positive for the coronavirus.
White House tours were canceled and the Kennedy Center canceled all performances through the end of the month, when they said they would re-evaluate the decision.
As schools and universities in the nation’s capital announced closures, families headed to the zoo, only to find out it too would be closing on Friday (March 13), disappointing some tourists while others took it in stride.
The virus that emerged in central China in December has now spread to over 130 countries and territories and infected more than 138,000 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. It has so far led to 46 U.S. deaths.
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