Universal and Six Flags won’t require masks outdoors under mega event order – Daily News
Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain visitors won’t be required to wear masks outdoors under a new ordinance requiring face coverings at outdoor mega events as public health officials continue to combat the surging COVID-19 Delta variant.
The Los Angeles County Public Health department will require attendees at outdoor mega events of more than 10,000 people to wear masks regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status starting Friday, Aug. 20. The new order does not apply to theme parks or amusement parks, according to L.A. County Public Health officials.
“To reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the Delta variant, universal masking is now required at all outdoor mega events where thousands of people from many different communities are crowded together, often for extended periods of time,” Los Angeles County Public Health director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement.
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Outdoor mega events include open-air concerts, sporting events, food festivals, car shows, marathons and parades, according to the L.A. County Public Health order.
California Department of Public Health officials classified major California theme parks like Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain as outdoor mega events with more than 10,000 participants or spectators under the state’s Beyond the Blueprint guidelines in May.
Universal Studios Hollywood will not require visitors to wear masks outdoors, according to theme park officials.
“The health and safety of our guests and team members is our top priority as we comply with all L.A. County Health guidelines, which currently requires face coverings worn within all indoor venues regardless of vaccination status,” according to a Universal Studios Hollywood spokesperson.
The outdoor mega event mask order does not apply to Six Flags Magic Mountain and the Valencia amusement park is not changing its mask policy, according to Six Flags officials.
“There are no changes to our current policy,” according to Six Flags officials. “We are compliant with all L.A. County mandates requiring masks at all indoor locations regardless of vaccination status.”
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Magic Mountain drew about 3.6 million visitors in 2019, according to Themed Entertainment Association/AECOM. Magic Mountain moved to 365-day year-round operations in 2018 — meaning the park attracts just under 10,000 visitors on an average day.
Universal Studios Hollywood attracted 9.2 million visitors in 2019 — averaging about 25,000 visitors per day, according to TEA/AECOM.
Federal, state and county officials across the United States have been reinstituting COVID-19 health and safety requirements throughout the summer to battle the spread of the Delta variant. Indoor and outdoor mega events are considered higher risk for COVID-19 transmission.
State officials lifted theme park mask mandates and most other coronavirus health and safety restrictions on June 15. Universal and Six Flags have required visitors to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status since mid-July under a L.A. County Public Health mandate.
The new L.A. County mask requirement at outdoor mega events becomes effective at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 19.
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Mega event attendees must wear masks except when actively eating or drinking. Masks may be removed briefly to eat or drink and must be immediately put back on afterward, according to the county mandate. Eating and drinking are only permitted while sitting or standing stationary.
