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Disneyland and other California theme parks get a path to reopening
Aerial view of the closed Knott’s Berry Farm theme park in Buena Park. Orange County, home of Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Park and Knott’s Berry Farm, is currently in the second-most restrictive tier. Large theme parks must reach Tier 4 before they can reopen.
Facing increased pressure from business owners and mayors in towns with theme parks, California health officials released protocols for operating the parks, giving destinations such as Disneyland, Universal Studios and Knott’s Berry Farm a path to reopening.
Large parks face more stringent requirements than smaller ones, and Disneyland won’t be able to open for several weeks at earliest. “There is a path forward. We don’t know when, but we know how” the parks will reopen, said Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s secretary of Health and Human Services.
The protocols announced Tuesday allow a large park to reopen once coronavirus transmission in its home county falls enough for the county to reach Tier 4 — the state’s least restrictive designation. A small park, meanwhile, can welcome guests once its home county reaches Tier 3, the second-least-restrictive level. Ghaly laid out some other restrictions as well: All parks must sell tickets in advance to make contact tracing […]
