Disney closes theme parks rest of March

ORLANDO, Fla. — Throughout its nearly 50-year history, Walt Disney World has closed briefly a handful of times from looming hurricanes and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but late Thursday, the company announced it would shut down for nearly two weeks starting Sunday because of the coronavirus pandemic — an unprecedented move.

“It’s truly uncharted territory,” said long-time theme park reporter Robert Niles, who had earlier anticipated the closure in Orlando, which happened four hours after Disney said it will also shut down the Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks in Anaheim, Calif.

At Disney World, the four theme parks will shut down although the hotels and the Disney Springs shopping center will remain open.

“In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of our theme parks,” Disney said in a statement. “We will continue to stay in close contact with appropriate officials and health experts.”

The Disney Cruise Line is suspending all new departures starting Saturday as well.

“It’s the right thing to do. Safety and health comes first. Revenue and profit comes second,” said Dennis Speigel, the president of the International Theme Park Services after he heard the news late Thursday.

It had surprised him Disney World acted so quickly, although it was clear Disneyland had set the precedent in the U.S. market, Speigel said.

The announcement comes on the heels of Disney parks being closed in Asia. Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland have been out of operation since late January, and the two theme parks at Tokyo Disney resort have been shuttered since Feb. 29. On Thursday, Disneyland and Disneyland Paris were added to that list. By the end of Thursday night so was Disney World.

Meanwhile, Disney World theme park employees, which make up the largest work force in Orlando, will continue to get paid. Employees who are able to in other company divisions are asked to work remotely.

— Orlando Sentinel

Space Needle to suspend operations

Seattle’s best-known landmark will suspend operations for almost three weeks due to COVID-19 concerns, according to a statement from Space Needle management Thursday evening.

The observation tower was closed to the public Friday, lasting until March 31.

The Space Needle, which was built in 1962, welcomes more than a million guests every year, according to its website.

Other Seattle tourist spots have also taken a temporary break, in efforts to slow the spread of the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Museum of Pop Culture — another Seattle Center attraction — closed its doors Thursday, and has not set a re-opening date. The Pacific Science Center and Seattle Aquarium also closed to the public Thursday, though neither has a confirmed case of COVID-19 among their employees.

— The Seattle Times

L.A. school district to close all schools

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles school officials on Friday voted to shut down the nation’s second-largest school system effective Monday, citing concerns over the rapid spread of the coronavirus. The district has about 900 campuses serving more than 670,000 children and adult students.

The San Diego Unified School District will also shut down effective Monday.

An increasing number of school districts throughout California and the nation have announced closures, including San Francisco Unified. Also, governors in four states — Ohio, Maryland, New Mexico and Michigan — ordered the closing of all public schools.

LAUSD enrolls about half a million students in kindergarten through 12th grade, 80% of whom rely on free or reduced-price lunches and 18,000 of whom are homeless.

— Los Angeles Times

Miami mayor tests positive for virus

MIAMI —Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, four days after the mayor attended a Miami event with a Brazilian government official who later tested positive for the virus.

Suarez confirmed the positive test Friday morning in an interview with the Miami Herald.

“It is confirmed that I have the coronavirus,” Suarez said. “I did test positive for it.”

Suarez said he is feeling healthy and strong, though his concern lies with those who have been in his close proximity in recent days.

“I’m concerned for people who have had some measure of contact with me,” he said.

He issued a statement early Friday asking those who have interacted with him to take precautions.

Suarez was one of several politicians, including Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Sen. Rick Scott and President Donald Trump, who interacted with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his staff during a visit to South Florida last week. The mayor went into isolation Thursday after learning that one of Bolsonaro’s staffers tested positive.

Fabio Wajngarten, press secretary to Bolsonaro, tested positive on Thursday. Before learning of the Bolsonaro aide’s positive test and isolating himself, Suarez was scheduled to declare a state of emergency for the city of Miami at the conference. After leaving City Hall later Thursday afternoon, he was taken to be tested, at the request of health officials.

Then Suarez went to his Coconut Grove home, where he planned to self-isolate for two weeks while his wife and children stay with extended family.

— Miami Herald

NY opens drive-thru coronavirus testing

NEW YORK — New York opened its first drive-through coronavirus testing facility in New Rochelle on Friday.

The Westchester County city has become the epicenter of the outbreak in the state, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called “the most significant cluster” in the nation.

The facility, set up in Glen Island Park, will have six lanes for motorists and can handle 200 cars per day, according to the governor.

“It’s not only faster and easier, it’s also smarter and safer because you’re not exposing people to a person who may be positive,” Cuomo said.

New Rochelle residents will be prioritized at the new testing site, as well as “vulnerable” people. Those looking to be tested must call ahead and make an appointment.

Drivers will be swabbed by health care workers without having to leave their cars, limiting the chance for exposure.

The site is being run by Northwell Health as the state is partnering with 28 private labs to test people for COVID-19.

— New York Daily News