California’s outdoor theme parks and sports stadiums will be re-admitted with reduced capacity from April 1 in provinces that meet certain coronavirus thresholds, state officials announced Friday.
According to the revised guidelines, theme parks in red-level provinces, the second most stringent of the four phases of the state’s reopening plan, will be allowed to operate at 15%. The capacity limit rises to 25% in the orange level, and then to 35% in the yellow level, where COVID transmission is considered ‘minimal’. However, attendance is limited to in-state visitors at all three levels.
“With the number of cases and hospitalizations being significantly lower, the arrival of three highly effective vaccines and targeted efforts to vaccinate the most vulnerable communities can gradually and safely bring back more activities, especially activities that take place outside and where consistent masking is possible. , ”Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, said in a statement.
Previously, theme parks like Disneyland were not allowed to reopen until their counties met the conditions to be in the yellow level, which according to the Los Angeles Times a case of less than 1 new case per day for every 100,000 people require.
There are currently 16 provinces, including Santa Clara, where the Great America Theme Park is located, operating in the red level. Both Orange and Los Angeles, home to Disneyland and Magic Mountain, are in the press level, the most restrictive reopening stage.
The changes announced Friday also allow outdoor sports and live performances with fans to resume in all four phases of the reopening with lower capacity. In the press level, the capacity will be limited to 100 people or less, and participants will only have to come from the region. Venues will also require advanced bookings and will not be able to sell concessions.
In the red level, capacity will be limited to 20% and concessions will have to be sold mainly to spectators on their seats. The capacity will increase to 33% in the orange level and 67% in the yellow level. Attendance at all three phases will also be restricted to California residents, officials said.
The new rules were quickly welcomed by Disneyland President Ken Potrock, who said park officials are looking forward to welcoming guests back after being closed for nearly a year.
“We are encouraged that the theme parks should now reopen in the spring, get thousands of people back to work and help neighboring businesses and our entire community greatly,” Potrock said in a statement. “With responsible Disney security protocols already implemented around the world, we can’t wait to welcome our guests back and look forward to sharing an opening date soon.”