Over the weekend, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention recommended that
travelers defer all cruise travel, especially if they
have underlying health issues.
The U.S. Travel Association predicted a 6%
decline in international visitors to the U.S. over
the next three months as a result of coronavirus.
If the prediction holds, it would be the largest
decline in international inbound travel since the
recession a dozen years ago, the association said.
Coronavirus fears hit Florida last week as Disney
World opened a new ride based on Mickey
Mouse, a park first. The resort’s most anticipated
new land in years, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge,
debuted only last August.
If a Disney visitor shows coronavirus symptoms
or first responders think they have the flu, both
patient and paramedic will get a face mask, said
Tim Stromsnes, president of the union local for
firefighters at Disney World.
Speigel said parks and attractions likely will
undergo “a lot of fumigation, disinfection, right
now, not only in the front of the house, but the
back of the house.”
Full Coverage: Virus Outbreak
Officials with Busch Gardens and SeaWorld
didn’t respond to email inquiries about how the
coronavirus had affected them.
Disney officials said in a statement that extra
hand sanitizers were being placed throughout its
four parks and more than two dozen hotels.
Tom Schroder, a spokesman for Universal
Orlando, said it is reinforcing “best-practice
health and hygiene procedures” in response to
the coronavirus outbreak and adding more hand
sanitizer units to its parks.