Amusement parks and outdoor sports stadiums in California may reopen April 1 under new reopening guidelines released Friday by public health officials, CBS Los Angeles reports.
The updated reopening guidelines allow theme parks in California to reopen as early as April 1 at 15% capacity once their counties reach the red, or second most restrictive, level of reopening. Capacity levels will be able to shift once an amusement park’s homeland improves into the orange and then yellow levels.
However, upon reopening, theme park visits will be limited to California residents.
“With the number of cases and hospital admissions significantly lower, the advent of three highly effective vaccines, and targeted efforts to vaccinate the most vulnerable communities, California can gradually and safely begin to reduce more activities, especially those that take place outdoors and where consistent masking is possible, “Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California’s Health and Human Services Agency, said in a statement.
The announcement was welcome news to Disneyland president Ken Potrock.
“We are encouraged that theme parks now have a path to reopening this spring, getting thousands back to work and greatly helping neighboring businesses and our entire community,” he said in a statement.
Theme parks in California have been closed to visitors since March last year, with the exception of limited-capacity food events such as this weekend’s Taste of Boysenberry at Knott’s Berry Farm and a “Touch of Disney” scheduled for later this month.
Orange County, home of Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm, just didn’t miss this week to be moved to the red layer.
UFCW Local 324, which represents the Disney cast members who work at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, cheered the news.
“Our Disney cast members are happy with this good news that the Disney parks will reopen in a month. They have been on leave or jobless for a year now and look forward to returning to work to help the Californians get back to work a little. provide more magic in their lives, ”the union said in a statement.
The updated guidelines also allow outdoor sports and live performances with fans and visitors to resume on April 1. While counties remain in the purple level, as Los Angeles County currently is, a baseball field like Dodger Stadium will have to limit its capacity to 100 local residents or less. Advance booking is required and no concessions or competition sales are allowed as per the guidelines.
Once a province reaches the red level, the capacity can be expanded to 20% and concession sales can resume to guests in their seats. In the orange layer, the capacity can increase to 33% and then to 67% in the yellow layer. Attendance is still limited to in-state visitors at all levels of reopening.
The Dodgers said they would soon announce health and safety protocols for fans, as well as a reduced capacity ticket policy.
“Like the Governor, we are optimistic that California will continue to make progress in the fight against COVID-19 and that we can safely host fans to start the season,” Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten said in a statement.
The California Attractions and Parks Association also welcomed the new guidelines.
“Parks now have a framework to reopen safely and responsibly,” Erin Guerrero, CAPA executive director, said in a statement. “We appreciate the government’s willingness to work with the state theme on the finer details of the plan so that parks can be quickly reopened responsibly, people can return to work safely and revitalize local economies. “