Prevention of SARS-COV-2 coronavirus spread at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland. The most visited Memorial site in the world during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum (A-BSM) implemented targeted measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission among employees and visitors. Despite being one of the world's most visited memorial sites, no COVID-19 cases were reported among staff for over 21 days after closing to visitors. The museum established an Expert Team that identified high-risk employee groups and locations, provided personal protective equipment (PPE), and installed devices to maintain microbiological cleanliness. Visitors were educated on precautions and offered disinfection points, while attendance was reduced. Procedures developed for employees remained effective post-reopening, demonstrating a scalable model for pandemic management in heritage institutions.

Wawrzyk, A., Rybitwa, D., Cywiński, P., Pióro, R., & Łobacz, M. (2020). Prevention of SARS-COV-2 coronavirus spread at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland. The most visited Memorial site in the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Przeglad Epidemiologiczny, 74(2), 303–315. https://doi.org/10.32394/pe.74.23