After opening its doors to visitors just last month, Hong Kong Disneyland is once again closing its gates after a surge in new coronavirus cases was recorded in the city. The massive resort, which reopened on June 18, was forced to shut down after Hong Kong authorities tightened its pandemic control measures after more than 52 new cases were reported in a single day.
Disneyland announced in a statement that the decision to close down the theme park was made after it received orders from the local government and health authorities to cooperate with their disease mitigation efforts. The theme park stated that it will be closing its doors starting on July 15. However, those who already have tickets can still choose to stay at its hotels, which will have an adjusted level of service in light of the increased restrictions.
The statement further added that the theme park will be implementing enhanced health and safety measures in line with the guidance issued by government health authorities. This will include increase sanitation and cleaning frequency as well as strict social distancing rules.
Along with restaurants and bars, theme parks were particularly heavily hit by the coronavirus pandemic, losing billions of dollars in revenues after the months-long lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders by governments worldwide. In its latest quarter, The Walt Disney Company, the firm that operates the entertainment resorts, reported a dramatic 58 percent drop in its profits as a result of the pandemic. The Anaheim-based company is expected to report a dramatic drop in its profits for 2020 when compared to its $26 billion earnings in 2019.
The Walt Disney Company has been slowly reopening its resorts worldwide while following the guidelines mandated by local authorities. Over the weekend, the company managed to reopen one of its core theme parks in Orlando, Florida. The company's Walt Disney World opened its doors to visitors on Saturday, despite the continued increase in new coronavirus cases in the United States.
The company has also announced plans of reopening its EPCOT Center and Hollywood Studio locations, both of which will be open to the public on July 15. Disney has assured its patrons that it will be implementing several health measures to ensure the safety of its visitors and all of its staff members. Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products chairman, Josh D'Amaro, assured its guests that the parks are safe and that they are quickly adapting to the new normal. The company's theme park in Shanghai had reopened back on May 11, while its theme parks in Tokyo had reopened on July 1.
