Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida and Disney Land in Anaheim California are requiring cast members and guests to mask up indoors on Friday, July 30 2021. The mandate will apply to everyone in the parks two years of age and older, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will remain optional for all guests in outdoor common areas.
Jerry Demings the Mayor or Orange County declared a state of emergency due to the huge spike in cases due to the Delta variant of COVID-19 which is filling hospitals at a never before seen rate.
Video I saw yesterday showed long lines of people in Disney World waiting in lines for rides with no social distancing set up. All the distancing markers had been taken down when the CDC declared about a month ago that anyone who is vaccinated can go mask less. Universal Studios has decided to “Urge” guests to wear masks indoors. All of the Central Florida theme parks have been functioning at full capacity allowing guests to spread the virus all across the country. The numbers of people filling local hospitals far exceeds the numbers seen back in March of 2020 when the parks decided they needed to shut down to stop the spread. After a solid year COVID isolation Americans want to get away and many are coming to Central Florida. There is money to be made filling the parks.
It has been found that the Delta variant causes breakthrough cases and those infections carry as much viral load as if an unvaccinated person were infected. The symptoms for a vaccinated parson are similar to having a cold so they might unknowingly infect others spreading the virus. 30% of people now testing positive in Orange Couunty are vaccinated. 1,371 people tested positive for COVID-19 on July 27, 2021. Since testing has been dropping the number of cases is likely higher. 95% of people who are hospitalized for COVID-19 are unvaccinated.
The CDC released a document that stated that the Delta variant spreads as easily as Chickenpox. The earlier variants of COVID spread about the same as a common cold infecting one or two other people. However Delta infects 8 or 9 other people and causes more severe infection. Vaccinated individuals who get infected can spread the virus as easily as unvaccinated individuals.