While Disneyland and Disney California Adventure await new reopening guidelines from the State of California, one local agency has given its own recommendation on the matter.
According to The Orange County Register‘s Brady MacDonald, the Orange County Health Care Agency has recommended that the parks reopen at 25% capacity once the county, which is home to the Disneyland Resort, moves into the “moderate” tier of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the second-lowest tier in the system. This would mean that the county would have no more than 1 to 3.9 daily new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, and a 2 to 4.9% positivity rate. County health officer and the agency’s director, Clayton Chau, said that health officials have worked closely with Disney in preparation for the parks’ reopening.
As of September 29th, Orange County was in the “substantial” category, a level above “moderate.” A county must remain in a tier no fewer than three weeks before moving into a lower tier.
Recently, the resort, along with Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, SeaWorld San Diego and other California theme and amusement parks pushed back against Newsom’s previous plan, which would have only allowed parks to reopen when their respective counties entered the least restrictive “minimal” tier, and only allowed residents who live within 120 miles of the parks to visit. After the proposed plan was scrapped, California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said in a statement: “Given the size and operational complexities of these unique sectors, we are seeking additional input from health, workforce and business stakeholders to finalize this important framework — all leading with science and safety.”
Last week, Disney Parks, Resorts and Products announced that 28,000 Cast Members would be laid off, citing that the situation was “exacerbated in California by the State’s unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen.” As of the writing of this article, a revised series of guidelines has yet to be announced.
Keep reading WDWNT for more as this story develops.
