The Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff has announced plans to temporarily close again due to rising COVID-19 cases.

After just recently reopening to general admission in November, the northern Arizona popular observatory will close for the second time in two years.

The observatory has been officially closed, while offering very limited programming for the last 20 months, beginning March 2020, before reopening late last year.

Observatory officials say the location will remain closed until the surge of local cases has significantly diminished.

Upon reopening, the Lowell Observatory instituted strict guidelines for staff and visitors.  In the three-month period that the observatory was open to the public, all public-facing staff were vaccinated, and all visitors were required to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test.

Officials say there is not set date in which the observatory will open.