Sacramento Zoo wanted to reopen with coronavirus protocols, but county pulled approval
The Sacramento Zoo had developed a plan to reopen June 1 with enhanced safety protocols nearly three months after it closed its doors to visitors to slow the coronavirus spread.
Zoo officials announced in a news release Monday that Sacramento County had approved the zoo’s reopening plan that includes “a carefully phased approach.” But that county approval was rescinded Monday afternoon shortly after the zoo announced the reopening date and ticket purchasing methods.
Lesley Kirrene, a spokeswoman for the zoo, said the reopening plan for the venue in Sacramento’s Land Park neighborhood was rescinded suddenly because it didn’t match what was currently authorized to reopen by the state. She said it’s unclear what that means for the zoo’s plan to reopen June 1.
“We’re going to continue to work with government officials for a safe reopening,” Kirrene told The Sacramento Bee.
She said the situation could change quickly, and she asked those wanting to visit the zoo to continue to monitor the Sacramento Zoo’s website and its social media accounts for updates on the zoo’s reopening.
Dr. Peter Beilenson, Sacramento County health chief, said he gave zoo officials the go-ahead to reopen, with a series of safety measures in place, after the governor’s health office last week changed the list of businesses and activities that are free to open now during Phase 2, adding “outdoor museums ... and other public spaces with modifications” to that Phase 2 list.
Beilenson said he took that to include open-air zoos, but was informed Monday by state officials that it does not.
“I’m sorry about that and I hope the zoo will open early in Phase 3,” Beilenson told The Bee.
Gov. Gavin Newsom at his noon Monday press conference hinted that more business openings, including those listed in his Phase 3, could open soon, but he declined to specify when.
Sacramento Zoo officials had announced enhanced protocols and procedures that would be implemented to ensure the health and safety of visitors, staff and animals.
Visitors would have to buy their tickets online in advance of their visit. Officials said these would be timed tickets for specific dates to make sure visitor capacities and physical distancing are maintained throughout the day.
Visitors with zoo memberships also would have to buy their tickets online in advance with the ticket price included in membership, according to the news release. The zoo was implementing a paperless system for transactions and zoo maps.
The timed tickets and added details about them were to become available for reservation starting at noon Friday and visitors could reserve their tickets on the “Plan Your Visit” section of the zoo’s website.
Zoo visitors would have to keep their group 6 feet apart from other groups at the zoo, officials said. Physical distancing signage would be placed throughout the zoo.
Masks would be required for all staff and visitors older than 2 years old. Zoo admission passes are currently not valid and only credit card transactions would be accepted, according to the website.
Jason Jacobs, the zoo’s executive director, says the zoo is a nonprofit organization that relies on admission and membership revenue to operate and care for nearly 500 animals. Officials asked the public to help support the nonprofit to help care for the animals by donating to the zoo’s emergency fund.
“We are happy to provide a safe outdoor recreation opportunity,” Jacobs said in Monday’s news release. “Since early March, we have added several new animals to the zoo including ostrich, alligators and a new female giraffe.”
On March 13, the zoo abruptly closed to visitors as other public venues that attract large groups of people shut down to slow the spread of coronavirus, which causes the infectious respiratory disease COVID-19. Only a limited number of essential staff, including animal care, veterinary teams and zoo security, continued to work at the zoo during its temporary closure.
A few weeks into the shutdown, the Sacramento Zoo announced it would begin layoffs, furloughs and reduced hours for the majority of its more than 100 employees. The zoo laid off 52 people, 17 were furloughed and 28 had their hours reduced.
Jacobs told The Bee that the coronavirus shutdown happened at a time of the year when the zoo is busiest with about 1,000 daily visitors, most of them families or participants in school field trips..
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 3:56 PM.
