Masks no longer required outdoors at WDW

[AndreaA]

HIPAA laws protect your medical information within the health care setting so private business and travel companies can ask you to provide proof of vaccination. Same with colleges across the country that will require proof of vaccination for fall semester.

I agree that hearing people use HIPAA as an excuse as to why businesses can’t ask you things is tiresome, because that’s not the immediate reason. It is, ultimately, ONE of the reasons it’s unlikely to happen though.

HIPAA does not prevent a business from ASKING. However, verification WOULD require HIPAA permission to be given to your medical provider for each and every business that asked. I don’t see that being either viable or worth the trouble of implementation for the vast majority of businesses. Without verification, ”asking” is merely safety theater. Colleges are different, as they have always requested full medical records. Still, getting exemptions from various vaccines has always been an option in the vast majority of schools (part of why measles outbreaks aren’t uncommon) and the same will hold true for the Covid vaccine.

 

[luv2cheer92]

It won't happen. That law was written for a reason, ie: to protect everyone's medical history. What if it wasn't in effect? Stores, resorts, parks could ask for your medical hx and send you away if they wanted. It's nobody's business what your medical hx is, period.
If people are worried about being around others, then maybe they should rethink their plans. If I wasn't comfortable and didn't feel safe at WDW, for whatever reason, you can bet I wouldn't go there.
Before Covid, people were crowded together at the parks all the time. I bet there were many, many people with illnesses, diseases but they went anyway to disney. Do you think a Dad is going to cancel a $$$ trip made months ago, with him and his wife getting vacation time, and the kids happy to go to disney, that if he has an upset stomach, etc, that he will cancel this trip? Nope, not gonna happen. We have always been around the "flu" illnesses and other illnesses, while at disney. You have to decide your risk level for you and your family. It's not up to disney or others to protect you. Disney is doing all it can. You can use sanitizer, masks, or whatever you need to make you feel safe if you want.

Please do some research on HIPAA. You brought it up in another thread and were responded to many times, but you seem to have ignored it. That is not how it works. Not even close.

 

[eleven24]

So what part of my medical history is your business during a "global pandemic"? I second the motion: if a person is not comfortable at this point going out into the real world with or without a mask then stay in the basement watching Netflix. Everyone can make their own decisions on what's best for their health.

I see by the use of "global pandemic" where you're coming from, so let's just agree to disagree.

 

[Darklord77]

I see by the use of "global pandemic" where you're coming from, so let's just agree to disagree.

Don't get me wrong, for a certain time it was a global pandemic. We are not there anymore, no matter how badly some want us to still be there.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Don't get me wrong, for a certain time it was a global pandemic. We are not there anymore, no matter how badly some want us to still be there.

Say what? Whose definition are you using? Or is this just your opinion?

 

[CatNipRules]

Say what? Whose definition are you using? Or is this just your opinion?

It's proof by how the CDC is relaxing the mask mandates.

My brother is stationed in South Korea and life there is getting back to normal. Much ore so that here. He laughed at how our country went crazy over toilet paper last year.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It's proof by how the CDC is relaxing the mask mandates.

My brother is stationed in South Korea and life there is getting back to normal. Much ore so that here. He laughed at how our country went crazy over toilet paper last year.

It's like these past few days are filled with education 101 we'll add pandemic to the list that is ever growing including ADA, HIPAA, civil rights/ bill of rights, what the CDC does and doesn't do, can a business do this or that and more. Whew. This list is getting too long, time for a school house rock reboot

 

[Darklord77]

Say what? Whose definition are you using? Or is this just your opinion?

Pandemic definition: Affecting a significant portion of the population and characterized by widespread growth.

Since its peak in late December/early January, cases have decreased nearly 90%.

Approximately 75% of the elderly population has been fully vaccinated. 36% of the total population has been fully vaccinated with almost 50% having at least a single dose. Then figure in the people who have been infected and recovered that have natural antibodies now.

Hospitalizations are at the lowest point since this began last March.

Mask mandates are being lifted nearly everywhere (some places begrudgingly).

 

[luv2cheer92]

Pandemic definition: Affecting a significant portion of the population and characterized by widespread growth.

Since its peak in late December/early January, cases have decreased nearly 90%.

Approximately 75% of the elderly population has been fully vaccinated. 36% of the total population has been fully vaccinated with almost 50% having at least a single dose. Then figure in the people who have been infected and recovered that have natural antibodies now.

Hospitalizations are at the lowest point since this began last March.

Mask mandates are being lifted nearly everywhere (some places begrudgingly).

Are you forgetting the rest of the world, or only thinking about this country?
Or does global just mean the US now?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Pandemic definition: Affecting a significant portion of the population and characterized by widespread growth.

Since its peak in late December/early January, cases have decreased nearly 90%.

Approximately 75% of the elderly population has been fully vaccinated. 36% of the total population has been fully vaccinated with almost 50% having at least a single dose. Then figure in the people who have been infected and recovered that have natural antibodies now.

Hospitalizations are at the lowest point since this began last March.

Mask mandates are being lifted nearly everywhere (some places begrudgingly).

Your opinion then I see. CDC nor WHO have declared this pandemic over with.

CDC defines pandemic as: "Pandemic refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people." WHO defines pandemic as "A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease"

On Jan 30 2020 WHO announced it as a Public Health Emergency, on March 11, 2020 it was elevated to a pandemic and neither the CDC nor WHO have reduced it back down from that.

You may wish the pandemic is over with, in your mind it may be over with. It is however not. Not even in the U.S. and it most certainly it still a global issue.

 

[AndreaA]

Are you forgetting the rest of the world, or only thinking about this country?
Or does global just mean the US now?

Well if it’s only increasing in a few areas (India, most notably) is it still considered “global”? Personally, I figure it will be called a “global pandemic” forever - it doesn’t really lose its status just because covid is coming under control. However, that IS what’s happening now - the virus is on the downswing, thank goodness.

 

[Darklord77]

Are you forgetting the rest of the world, or only thinking about this country?
Or does global just mean the US now?

I was going to spare everyone having to read boring stats, but since you asked here are the most recent 7 day averages:

UK: 2,274
Russia: 8,578
France: 14,420
Australia: 6
Canada: 5,508
Japan: 5,981
China: No one believes them anyway
United States: 31,149
India: 319,497

So the answer is NO, I was not forgetting the rest if the world. However, a hot spot in India does not qualify as continuing to treat this as a global pandemic.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

However, a hot spot in India does not qualify as continuing to treat this as a global pandemic.

I'd respect your answer if you said it was your opinion, just don't present that opinion as fact at the moment because it's not backed up by anything at the moment.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Well if it’s only increasing in a few areas (India, most notably) is it still considered “global”? Personally, I figure it will be called a “global pandemic” forever - it doesn’t really lose its status just because covid is coming under control. However, that IS what’s happening now - the virus is on the downswing, thank goodness.

As you stated just because its getting better (which is great, yay!), doesn't mean its not still a huge problem. There are other countries where it is still a concern, especially countries that aren't getting the vaccine out as fast as us.
Just mostly responding to the poster who said it is no longer a global pandemic then only spouting out stats from the US.

 

[luv2cheer92]

I was going to spare everyone having to read boring stats, but since you asked here are the most recent 7 day averages:

UK: 2,274
Russia: 8,578
France: 14,420
Australia: 6
Canada: 5,508
Japan: 5,981
China: No one believes them anyway
United States: 31,149
India: 319,497

So the answer is NO, I was not forgetting the rest if the world. However, a hot spot in India does not qualify as continuing to treat this as a global pandemic.

WHO disagrees. Stating your opinion is fine, but don't state it as fact.

 

[Darklord77]

You may wish the pandemic is over with, in your mind it may be over with. It is however not. Not even in the U.S. and it most certainly it still a global issue.

Having it still be an "issue" does not mean it is still a global pandemic.

CDC defines pandemic as: "Pandemic refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people." WHO defines pandemic as "A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease"

You are correct in your definitions. At one point this did meet the definition of a pandemic. But seeing how the CDC and WHO can't even decide on a common definition for a pandemic does not strengthen your position by using both of them as resources.

 

[AndreaA]

WHO disagrees. Stating your opinion is fine, but don't state it as fact.

Let’s not pretend that if he’d stated it as his opinion that it wouldn’t have been IMMEDIATELY challenged...

I just do NOT understand the amount of petty nit-picking and bantering that goes on unchecked and yet threads are then shut down for honest debate. Wow.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Wow.well ok then...
Seemed like healthy debate to me

 

[luv2cheer92]

Let’s not pretend that if he’d stated it as his opinion that it wouldn’t have been IMMEDIATELY challenged...

I just do NOT understand the amount of petty nit-picking and bantering that goes on unchecked and yet threads are then shut down for honest debate. Wow.

Glad to know you know what I'm thinking! Wow is right!

 

[Darklord77]

Just mostly responding to the poster who said it is no longer a global pandemic then only spouting out stats from the US.

WHO disagrees. Stating your opinion is fine, but don't state it as fact.

You didn't appreciate my stats I was "spouting out" from other countries? I provided facts. Just because bureaucrats don't want to admit it just yet doesn't mean that it is still a "global pandemic." The WHO may never sound the all clear or say that it is truly over.

I would really stop using the WHO as a resource for your arguments. They really did not do so well at the start if this mess. Some people could draw conclusions that they might have been covering for China.