Covid News Updates

[Marionnette]

The testing being done is close to Disney property but not on Disney property and cm are doing temp checks

Thanks for the correction.

I thought the temperature checks at the parks were being conducted by AdventHealth? Did something change?

 

[Wreckem]

I think you run into privacy issues when you start requiring medical testing. Proof of immunization in order to travel? That’s one thing. Requiring individuals to submit to invasive medical tests would turn a lot of people off. If you think the anti-mask group is vocal about staying home, imagine an even larger group that objects to having a swab jammed up their nose every time they wish to enter a park. I’m not sure that Disney wants to head in that direction.

Not to mention that Disney would be required to report all positive cases to public health. It’s not just a matter of sending the infected individual back to their hotel room or home to quarantine or convalesce.

When cruising returns in the US it will only do so with rapid testing at boarding. Cruise lines will be able to afford it because you aren’t talking the volume of patrons that Disney has. It’s also been rumored they would be operating at 50-70% occupancy depending on class of ship. Rapid testing to gain entry at Disney is not feasible because of the sheer volume daily.

Honestly if cruises are going to return before Summer 2021 they will probably have to do rapid testing on embarkation day and at least one other day during a 7 day cruise.

 

[yulilin3]

Thanks for the correction.

I thought the temperature checks at the parks were being conducted by AdventHealth? Did something change?

That's right, temp checks are being done by agent health

 

[yulilin3]

When cruising returns in the US it will only do so with rapid testing at boarding. Cruise lines will be able to afford it because you aren’t talking the volume of patrons that Disney has. Rapid testing to gain entry at Disney is not feasible.

That's different as everyone is on the cruise for at least 3 days, so testing wouldn't have to be done everyday as everyone would be in a bubble, unless they go on off shore excursions

 

[Marionnette]

When cruising returns in the US it will only do so with rapid testing at boarding. Cruise lines will be able to afford it because you aren’t talking the volume of patrons that Disney has. Rapid testing to gain entry at Disney is not feasible.

But those tests won’t be conducted by the cruise lines. It takes special licensing to be able to run medical tests. More than likely, if this happens, the testing will be conducted by medical professionals who are trained to ensure that the equipment is working up to standards and that their results are as accurate as the parameters of the assay permit. And the companies that employ those individuals conducting the tests will be the ones carrying the liabilities for accuracy, HIPPAA compliance and the necessary reporting of positive results to public health offices.

 

[mamaofsix]

I think this news is great, and for sure it's a possibility Disney could use rapid testing. Anything is possible.

When reading all of the posts saying "it's just not going to happen," I was taken by to February/March . . . when there were threads on here - some hundreds of pages long - with folks arguing back and forth about whether or not Disney would ever close down their U.S. parks. Posters kept coming on again and again to say "there's no way Disney U.S. parks will close. It would be a logistical nightmare. Not gonna happen." Well, we all know what happened there....

Sometimes what ends up happening defies logistics. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Jonfw2]

Well said, mama.

 

[osufeth24]

who says its highly accurate?
We've seen rapid tests fail.
We've seen tests that take days for results fail.
Is Disney going to hire a bunch of medical professionals now?
Are people willing to have the test done?
Will there be enough tests?
How much will the tests cost Disney who will then pass along the price to guests?
Its not a game changer because its unlikely to happen.

It's reported it has 97 to 99% accuracy. And if you can take another one which then would make the odds 1 in 10000 its false negative

 

[osufeth24]

It also comes with an app that proves your test.

 

[Jonfw2]

And to clarify concerns about availability, Abbott will be producing fifty million per month.

 

[yulilin3]

I think this news is great, and for sure it's a possibility Disney could use rapid testing. Anything is possible.

When reading all of the posts saying "it's just not going to happen," I was taken by to February/March . . . when there were threads on here - some hundreds of pages long - with folks arguing back and forth about whether or not Disney would ever close down their U.S. parks. Posters kept coming on again and again to say "there's no way Disney U.S. parks will close. It would be a logistical nightmare. Not gonna happen." Well, we all know what happened there....

Sometimes what ends up happening defies logistics. We'll just have to wait and see.

If 2020 has taught us anything is that anything is possible

 

[yulilin3]

And just one more clarification the testing site close to Disney property is open for everyone not just cm. So anyone can make a reservation and get tested.
Advent health takes temp for all cm arriving for their shift and actually show them the reading

 

[Jonfw2]

To answer all the concerns:

1. Privacy: the tests would be conducted by medical professionals and results only sent to the individual’s cells.

2. Availability: massive at low cost.

3. Crowd issues: they’ve already completely altered the park for social distancing. Every park entrance has plenty of room for people to wait for fifteen minutes until entering.

4. Do they have the right: absolutely. You have the right to not go if getting tested doesn’t work for you.

 

[yulilin3]

To answer all the concerns:

1. Privacy: the tests would be conducted by medical professionals and results only sent to the individual’s cells.

2. Availability: massive at low cost.

3. Crowd issues: they’ve already completely altered the park for social distancing. Every park entrance has plenty of room for people to wait for fifteen minutes until entering.

4. Do they have the right: absolutely. You have the right to not go if getting tested doesn’t work for you.

It really doesn't have enough space to social distance everyone for 15 minutes, especially at rope drop. There's a constant influx of people in the morning, they already open the parks 45 minutes prior to avoid crowding at the entrance.
Not only that im assuming each test would take a number of minutes to administer, including gathering the info of the patient. Right now at rope drop with a walk thru temp check that takes less than 5 seconds there's a queue. It's just not practical

 

[mamaofsix]

It really doesn't have enough space to social distance everyone for 15 minutes, especially at rope drop. There's a constant influx of people in the morning, they already open the parks 45 minutes prior to avoid crowding at the entrance.
Not only that im assuming each test would take a number of minutes to administer, including gathering the info of the patient. Right now at rope drop with a walk thru temp check that takes less than 5 seconds there's a queue. It's just not practical

I could see them doing something like requiring a negative test within the past 24 hours. So, many guests could theoretically be tested the night or day before park entry and simply show proof of a negative test upon entering.

 

[hereforthechurros]

it’s not that it’s not awesome news, it’s that logistically it’s not feasible for the parks for many reasons. Masks, distancing and safety measures are already keeping people safe in the parks so it’s hard to imagine wdw spending the money and manpower to do this if they don’t have to.

 

[motherof5]

Can you imigine the thousands of people standing in a crowed at rope drop waiting for their 15 minutes to be up? It would be total chaos.

It’s great that there is an approved 15 minute test but I don’t think it would work for the parks.

I agree. Also if you go daily for a week can you imagine wasting so many tests on 1 person.

 

[Marionnette]

Reading the FDA’s report on the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag card, it appears that the clinical trials were performed on individuals within the first seven days of the onset of COVID-like symptoms. Only 7 asymptomatic patients were tested, with two positive results.

Which raises the question as to whether this test is useful when dealing with a primarily asymptomatic population such as theme park guests, or cruise passengers. I think more data is needed before we can call this a game-changer for Disney parks, although it does have an impact elsewhere.

 

[Jonfw2]

Mar, I’m not sure where you’re getting that info.

 

[Marionnette]

Mar, I’m not sure where you’re getting that info.

https://www.fda.gov/media/141570/download