According to a report from the AP, Florida recorded 21,683 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday – a single-day record since the start of the pandemic. This news comes on the heels of Walt Disney World tightening face mask policies and The Walt Disney Company requiring that Cast Members get vaccinated against COVID-19.
In addition to high new case numbers, the Florida Hospital Association is reporting that COVID-19 related hospitalizations are reaching an all-time peak as well. At just over 8,800 hospitalizations, hospitals are experiencing 87% of the previous peak, and the number is expected to rise due to the fact that hospitalizations generally lag new case numbers. Locally, Orange County officials say that we likely haven’t reached our peak of new cases yet.
Of those 8,800+ hospitalizations, hospitals report more than 95% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are not fully vaccinated, and that individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 is younger than previous peaks.
Another lagging number is deaths. The state of Florida reported 409 deaths this week. This is still down significantly from the peak of 1,266 deaths in August 2020, but officials warn that this number is expected to increase following an expected increase in hospitalizations. Generally, new cases are seen first, then hospitalizations, then deaths.
While Florida continues to be a COVID-19 epicenter in the United States, Central Florida theme parks are attempting to balance safety with sustainability. At Walt Disney World, all guests are required to wear a face covering indoors. This new policy follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Universal and SeaWorld are only encouraging guests wear face coverings indoors, but fall short of requiring face mask usage in their theme parks.
Officials throughout the travel and entertainment industry have been encouraged by travel numbers and other indicators, but the reality of COVID-19 spreading throughout Florida threatens the comeback that the hospitality industry had hoped for.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a number of legislative actions designed to prevent shutdowns like what we experienced last summer. Everything from preventing local government mask mandates to making it illegal for businesses to require a so-called Vaccine Passport.
As Walt Disney World looks towards their 50th Anniversary celebration on October 1, there appears to be few indicators of slowing down. A little more than a week ago, Disney announced the return of even more entertainment to their theme parks – including the return of the Wonderful World of Animation projection show to Disney’s Hollywood Studios tonight. Even with indoor face mask rules being put in place, Disney has not announced any physical distancing requirements.
Earlier this year, Disney world had messaging throughout their website and My Disney Experience mobile app that reminded guests that “the use of face coverings is not a substitute for physical distancing.” Now, as Disney continues to pack its theme parks and bring back offerings that draw mass crowds such as nightly fireworks, that messaging has been removed. With their hands tied by the State as it relates to requiring vaccines from their patrons, Disney’s other option is to reinstate stricter capacity limits and bringing back physical distancing – a move that seems unlikely at this point.
Disney has also seemingly gone on the offensive (where they can) as it relates to vaccine messaging. For months now, Disney has encouraged guests to get vaccinated via messaging on their website and My Disney Experience mobile app.
With their recent requirement that Cast Members get vaccinated, The Walt Disney Company has made their stance on vaccines clear – get vaccinated.
Get vaccinated: https://www.vaccines.gov/