Today, the California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly issued another COVID-19 update, reiterating that Orange County, which includes Anaheim and the Disneyland Resort, is still under a Red “Substantial” tier code. While not present at the update, Governor Gavin Newsom works directly with Dr. Ghaly in establishing reopening procedures for businesses across the state. Counties are assigned a color code based off of case rates and positivity rates.

Dr. Ghaly reiterated that reopening dates and guidelines for theme parks “will come out when we’re ready.” “We will continue to lead with public health and look at our data …slow and stringent, moving forward,” the health secretary stated.

Dr. Ghaly also spoke to Governor Newsom’s strike teams, which recently visited Walt Disney World and other currently-operating theme parks to analyze COVID-19 protocols firsthand:

“The team visited Florida theme parks, likely in Orlando. We wanted to find out in action how a park and the community surrounding it functions in a time that we’re facing covid transmission, and how it plays out not just in the park, but beyond.”

Protocols for Halloween were also issued, with an emphasis on limiting mass gatherings of any kind, encouraging residents to celebrate virtually. Considering that people from all over the world will want to come visit Disneyland and other theme parks in the state once they reopen, that will require even more nuanced decisions on what to include in reopening guidelines.

Governor Newsom recently stated that California was in “no hurry” to issue theme park reopening dates or guidelines, stating science will guide any announcements on when and how it will be safe to reopen major theme parks.