Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
California Tells Amusement Parks And Ballparks That They Can Open April 1
Orange County Register: Disneyland, Universal And Other California Theme Parks Can Reopen April 1
California theme parks can reopen April 1 under updated guidelines from the state’s health department following a year of coronavirus closures that cost the parks billions and forced them to shed tens of thousands of jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new California theme park guidelines and opening date are part of a “refresh” of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-tier Blueprint for a Safer Economy. California theme parks have been closed since March 2020 under COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines issued by the state. Many parks have partially reopened for special events and food festivals without rides. (MacDonald, 3/5)
CNN: Disneyland And Other California Amusement Parks Can Reopen April 1
Disneyland Resort in Southern California will be allowed to reopen with capacity limits starting April 1, state Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly announced Friday. ... "We feel like now is the appropriate time to begin to reintroduce these activities in some fashion, and in a guarded way, in a slow and steady way," Ghaly said in a teleconference. ... There will be a time limit on indoor rides, though most are fairly short and already socially distanced. Thrill-seekers will be generally required to queue up outside and enter in groups. (Mossburg, 3/7)
AP: California OKs Reopening Of Ball Parks, Disneyland
California has cleared a path for fans to hit the stands at opening-day baseball games and return to Disneyland nearly a year after coronavirus restrictions shuttered major entertainment spots. The state on Friday relaxed guidelines for reopening outdoor venues as a fall and winter surge seemed to be ending, with COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths plummeting and vaccination rates rising. (Beam and Ronayne, 3/6)
NPR: California Set To Open Ballparks, Arenas And Theme Parks In April
The state of California updated its plans Friday to allow outdoor events at stadiums, ballparks and theme parks to begin to reopen April 1. Sports facilities and amusement parks will reopen at reduced capacity, contingent on county-level infection rates. The California Department of Public Health released its Blueprint for a Safer Economy guidelines last August, which has dictated the opening and closing of businesses at the county level ever since. For counties in the state's most restrictive Purple Tier, outdoor sports and live performances will be limited to 100 people or less and attendees must live in the region. Reservations will be required and concessions sales won't be available, a CDPH statement said. Attendance is capped at 20% in the Red Tier and 33% in the Orange, both of which can welcome in-state visitors. (Jones, 3/5)
