A California state association issued guidelines warning that screaming on thrill rides could spread COVID-19.
California’s Attractions and Parks Association issued recommendations that park officials encourage riders to “mitigate the effects of shouting” on thrill rides to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The association’s “responsible reopening plan” also includes a face mask requirement and modifying seating on rides. California has scheduled tentatively to re-open theme parks in April.
Also off the list: singing and shouting, which the Association claims also can spread COVID-19.
Our Take…
You know what else spreads COVID-19? Breathing. Want to prohibit that as well?
This half-@$$ method of opening things is ridiculous. Facilities like these should be open if they are safe to the public. To prohibit, or in this case, “recommend” that patron curtail natural responses to stimuli such as a thrill ride is unreasonable. If screaming on a roller coaster is that unsafe, then don’t open. Or, don’t open that ride.
It’s mixed signals like this which lead people to believe that the rollout of re-opening post-COVID-19 is based on politics, not science. Think back to NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s bar re-opening, and the stupid food requirement he came up with last year.
If we are going to follow science, then let’s follow science. Enough of the buffoonish game-playing.
