diff --git a/autumn/projects/sm_covid2/common_school/calibration_plots/mc_plots.py b/autumn/projects/sm_covid2/common_school/calibration_plots/mc_plots.py
index 27ce249ab..7cfcfa24f 100644
--- a/autumn/projects/sm_covid2/common_school/calibration_plots/mc_plots.py
+++ b/autumn/projects/sm_covid2/common_school/calibration_plots/mc_plots.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def make_post_mc_plots(idata, burn_in, output_folder=None):
     chain_length = idata.sample_stats.sizes['draw']
 
     # Traces (including burn-in)
-    ax = az.plot_trace(idata, figsize=(16, 5.0 * len(idata.posterior)), compact=False);
+    az.plot_trace(idata, figsize=(16, 5.0 * len(idata.posterior)), compact=False);
     plt.subplots_adjust(hspace=.7)
     if output_folder:
         plt.savefig(output_folder_path / "mc_traces.jpg", facecolor="white", bbox_inches='tight')
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def make_post_mc_plots(idata, burn_in, output_folder=None):
     burnt_idata = idata.sel(draw=range(burn_in, chain_length))  # Discard burn-in
 
     # Traces (after burn-in)
-    ax = az.plot_trace(burnt_idata, figsize=(16, 5.0 * len(idata.posterior)), compact=False);
+    az.plot_trace(burnt_idata, figsize=(16, 5.0 * len(idata.posterior)), compact=False);
     plt.subplots_adjust(hspace=.7)
     if output_folder:
         plt.savefig(output_folder_path / "mc_traces_postburnin.jpg", facecolor="white", bbox_inches='tight')
@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@ def make_post_mc_plots(idata, burn_in, output_folder=None):
     rhat_df = raw_rhat_df.drop(columns="random_process.delta_values").loc[0]
     for i in range(len(raw_rhat_df)):
         rhat_df[f"random_process.delta_values[{i}]"] = raw_rhat_df['random_process.delta_values'][i]
-    ax = rhat_df.plot.barh(xlim=(1.,1.105))
-    ax.vlines(x=1.05,ymin=-0.5, ymax=len(rhat_df), linestyles="--", color='orange')
-    ax.vlines(x=1.1,ymin=-0.5, ymax=len(rhat_df), linestyles="-",color='red')    
+    axis = rhat_df.plot.barh(xlim=(1.,1.105))
+    axis.vlines(x=1.05,ymin=-0.5, ymax=len(rhat_df), linestyles="--", color='orange')
+    axis.vlines(x=1.1,ymin=-0.5, ymax=len(rhat_df), linestyles="-",color='red')    
     if output_folder:
         plt.savefig(output_folder_path / "r_hats.jpg", facecolor="white", bbox_inches='tight')
         plt.close()
diff --git a/autumn/projects/sm_covid2/common_school/calibration_plots/opti_plots.py b/autumn/projects/sm_covid2/common_school/calibration_plots/opti_plots.py
index fff1a1473..1e7471653 100644
--- a/autumn/projects/sm_covid2/common_school/calibration_plots/opti_plots.py
+++ b/autumn/projects/sm_covid2/common_school/calibration_plots/opti_plots.py
@@ -133,8 +133,8 @@ def plot_model_fit(bcm, params, iso3, outfile=None):
     if outfile:
         fig.savefig(outfile, facecolor="white")
 
-    return fig
-
+    plt.close()
+    
 
 def plot_model_fit_with_ll(bcm, params, outfile=None):
     REF_DATE = datetime.date(2019,12,31)
@@ -241,4 +241,4 @@ def plot_multiple_model_fits(bcm, params_list, outfile=None):
     if outfile:
         fig.savefig(outfile, facecolor="white")
 
-    return fig
\ No newline at end of file
+    plt.close()
\ No newline at end of file