In a state cabinet meeting yesterday, Florida's Surgeon General Scott A. Rivkees stated that social distancing measures will be needed until a vaccine is developed for COVID-19.
Rivkees replied to a question with, "So as long as we're going to have COVID-19 in the environment, and this is a tough virus, we're going to have to practice these measures so that we are all protected."
Drug manufacturers have suggested that in a best-case scenario, they may be able to produce a mass-produced vaccine in the second half of 2021. Vaccines typically have a much longer development cycle closer to 10 years.
On the west coast in Disneyland's home state, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a briefing yesterday that, "The prospect of mass gatherings is negligible at best until we get to herd immunity and we get to a vaccine." He continued with, "Large-scale events that bring in hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of strangers are not in the cards based upon our current guidelines and current expectations."
He later added that large gatherings in June, July and August were "unlikely," although did not specifically mention theme parks.
The news from both coasts suggests considerable hurdles for Disney to resume any operations at its domestic theme parks. For now, they remain closed until further notice.
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