Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando have both announced they will end their temperature checks for visitors.
In a statement Disney said they will no longer carry out screenings for employees from May 8 and for guests from May 16.
Universal adopted the same policy regarding temp checks and have reduced their social distancing from six foot to three effective Thursday.
Masks are still required at both parks, as is social distancing.
The decision came on the back of Governor Ron DeSantis’ announcement Monday that he was signing an executive order to override any county or city rules on COVID to go in effect July 1.
Both cases of COVID-19 and death resulting from it are falling across Florida, data shows. Nearly nine million people have received the vaccine in the Sunshine State.
Since Disney World reopened last summer, guests have been required to wear masks, observe social distancing, and submit to temperature screenings. Disney Land in California reopened last week after more than a year closed.
Guests were told: ‘Anyone displaying a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or above ‘will be directed to an additional location for rescreening and assistance.’
‘Those with temperatures 100.4 F or above will not be allowed entry; those in their party will not be allowed entry either,’ according to the site.
But in statement Wednesday Disney said: ‘Following the advice of the CDC and our local health officials, we will phase out onsite temperature screenings at Walt Disney World Resort for Cast Members beginning May 8 and Guests on May 16.
‘We will continue to follow the guidance of health and safety leaders going forward and most importantly encourage people to get vaccinated.’
Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando have both announced they will end their temperature checks for visitors. In a statement Disney said they will no longer carry out screenings for employees from May 8 and for guests from May 16
Universal adopted the same policy regarding temp checks and have reduced their social distancing from six foot to three effective Thursday. Masks are still required at both parks, as is social distancing
Guests will still have to reserve tickets in advance, social distancing must be observed and masks are still required. Capacity is also cut.
Universal said in a statement: ‘There are no more temperature checks upon entry.
‘And Social Distancing between travel parties is now reduced to three feet (1 meter).
‘Still, most of our original safety protocols remain unchanged—from wearing face coverings across our Resort to our ongoing dedication to cleanliness and sanitization.’
Disney guests will still have to reserve tickets in advance, social distancing must be observed and masks are still required. Capacity is also cut
Last month it was reported that a Louisiana man who booked a $15,000 vacation to Disney World was arrested after he refused a mandatory temperature check at the entrance to Disney Springs.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office released body cam footage of the February 13 incident involving Kelly Sills, 47, of Baton Rouge.
Sills pleaded not guilty to the charge of trespassing.
According to the arrest report, Sills was confronted outside the Boathouse Restaurant at Disney Springs by Disney security and Orange County Sheriff’s deputies.
According to the deputies, Sills skipped the temperature screening tent and then refused to go back. He then ignored orders from security guards and sheriff’s deputies to leave the area, according to authorities.
The decision came on the back of Governor Ron DeSantis’ announcement Monday that he was signing an executive order to override any county or city rules on COVID to go in effect July 1
Both cases of COVID and death rates are falling across Florida, data show
Speaking Monday Republican DeSantis said the state is ‘no longer in a state of emergency’. He then signed SB-2006 – a bill that allows him to override all local rules and bans vaccine passports from July 1 onwards.
‘At this point, the people that haven’t been vaccinated is certainly not because a lack of supply or a lack of availability,’ he said.
His order means that in public places, there are no more COVID rules at all including social distancing and masks.
Private businesses can however choose to enforce their own rules, which has largely been the case in Florida throughout.
There has never been a statewide mask mandate in Florida, nor have there been state-imposed social distancing rules. Instead, Democratic stronghold cities and counties have taken to imposing their own rules.
DeSantis said his executive order would allow people to finally get back to normal.
‘We don´t know what´s going to happen in the future, but I think this creates a structure that´s going to be a little bit more respectful, I think, of people´s businesses jobs, schools and personal freedom.’
DeSantis was at a waterfront restaurant in St. Petersburg when he signed SB-2006 – a bill that allows him to override all local rules and bans vaccine passports from July 1 onwards
DeSantis said his executive order would allow people to finally get back to normal
DeSantis also said that because so many people had now been vaccinated, telling anyone who has that they still need to wear a mask undermines confidence in the vaccines themselves.
‘Folks that are saying that they need to be policing people at this point are saying you don´t believe in the vaccines, you don´t believe in the data, you don´t believe in the science,’ he said.
Among those who criticized his decision was Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.
‘It feels like he´s spiking the ball on the 10-yard line. He´s been following political ideology more than science during this whole pandemic,’ he said.
‘To be clear, cities like St. Pete, Tampa, Orlando, Miami and Miami Beach, saved Florida and the governor´s behind throughout this pandemic.
‘Can you imagine if each city had been led by Ron DeSantis?
‘How many lives would have been lost? What would our economy look like today?’ St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said in another tweet.
