SINGAPORE — The ArtScience Museum, within the integrated resort of Marina Bay Sands, said that it will be closed temporarily for extensive cleaning from Thursday (March 19). 

The museum announced the closure on Facebook, prompting an online user to enquire if a staff member or visitor there had contracted the coronavirus.  

In reply, the museum said: “We regret to confirm that a staff member who works at ArtScience Museum has tested positive for Covid-19.”

A spokesperson for Marina Bay Sands told TODAY that the staff member tested positive on Wednesday.

Her last day at work before going on medical leave was on March 10. 

Contact tracing is underway for staff members and guests who may have interacted with the employee when she had been at work. 

The spokesperson added: “ArtScience Museum immediately commenced deep cleaning and disinfection (on Wednesday) and into the night.

“As a precautionary measure, we will also be closing the museum temporarily (on Thursday) and over the weekend to allow for further extensive deep cleaning.”

The museum will later announce re-opening dates on its website and social media channels.

Tickets already bought for the exhibitions will be refunded. These will be made to guests who had bought tickets but have not visited the exhibitions before the museum closure at 1pm on Thursday, the spokesperson said.

The money will be credited back to the credit card that was used to buy the tickets, within a month from March 19.

For patrons who paid by cash or electronic payment facility Nets, they would have to take the unused tickets and head to Marina Bay Sands’ Theatre Box Office within a month from March 19 to get a refund.

Marina Bay Sands said that since the onset of Covid-19 in Singapore, it has implemented health measures, including temperature-taking and has significantly increased disinfection across the property. 

Social-distancing measures have also been rolled out, in line with the latest government advisories, including at the ArtScience Museum.

As of Wednesday evening, Singapore has reported 313 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Of these, 117 patients have recovered and 15 are in critical condition under intensive care.