Less than one week after reopening to the public, the Little Rock Zoo is closing until further notice after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the news release, the City of Little Rock and the Little Rock Zoo will be closing the Zoo until further notice, “out of an abundance of caution.”
“The staff member testing positive worked in the facilities operations division of the Zoo,” the statement says. “The employee did not have contact with the public. Zoo staff members are required to wear a mask covering the face and mouth at all times while on Zoo grounds to reduce exposure to the virus. All Zoo staff members are temperature checked before their shift. The Zoo staff member testing positive never registered a fever. Zoo staff have also modified work schedules to reduce exposure between teams and additional sanitizing has been added in work spaces.”
Susan Altrui, the Zoo’s director, says that the closing will involve sanitizing the premises and testing staff to ensure public safety before reopening.