Florida confirmed its place as an emerging epicenter of the COVID pandemic in the United States on Friday by reporting its second sharpest daily rise in cases, while Walt Disney Co. prepared to reopen its flagship theme park in Orlando to the chagrin of some employees.
Florida recorded 11,433 new coronavirus cases, the state health department said, more evidence that the virus is still spreading largely unchecked throughout parts of the country.
The state experienced the surge after initially avoiding the worst of the outbreak that hit New York and other northeastern U.S. states. Friday’s total was just short of the state’s record high for new cases, set last Saturday.
The Walt Disney World theme parks in Orlando will open to a limited number of guests on Saturday. To lower the risks, visitors and employees will have to wear masks and undergo temperature checks, and the resort will not hold parades, fireworks displays and other activities that draw crowds.
Around 19,000 people, including workers, signed a petition asking Disney to delay the reopening and the actors’ union that represents 750 Walt Disney World performers has filed a grievance alleging retaliation against its members over the union’s demand that they be tested for the coronavirus.
A Disney spokeswoman said Actors Equity union representatives had not made themselves available for further discussion and the theme park would open without the performers. Seven other unions reached agreements with Disney on returning to work.
On Tuesday, Disney’s chief medical officer, Dr. Pamela Hymel, said new requirements ranging from temperature checks to face coverings and extra sanitation would enable guests to enjoy Disney World responsibly.
Other theme parks opened in Orlando in June, including Comcast Corp’s Universal Studios Orlando and SeaWorld Entertainment Inc’s SeaWorld.
Florida is one of the few states that does not disclose the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. But more than four dozen Florida hospitals reported their intensive care units reached capacity earlier this week.
This month, Florida has repeatedly reported more new daily coronavirus cases than any European country had at the height of their outbreaks. Its positive test rate, at 19% earlier this week, is one of the highest in the country currently.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday called the rising cases a “blip” and urged residents not to be afraid.
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