Orange County Mayor Demings describes the past week as a 'reality check for our community'

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Posted: Monday August 2, 2021 5:00pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, in his COVID-19 briefing this afternoon, said the past week had been a "Reality check for our community."

Signs at the front of Magic Kingdom remind guest that masks are required indoors

Yesterday in Orange County, there were 924 new COVID-19 cases, with 1610 on Saturday.

The 14-day positivity rate is now at a high of 17.9%. Just a few weeks ago, that rate was below 5%.

AdventHealth has moved to "black status" - deferring non-emergency services throughout the hospital system.

Mask required sign at the Emporium on Main Street U.S.A.

Mayor Demings specifically called out the Walt Disney Company for its help in following the Orange County guidelines by enforcing mask use and requiring vaccinations among its employees.

Masks required on outdoor coasters like Barnstormer

Demings has this week also resumed the Orange County Economic Taskforce, which hadn't met since the summer of 2020 when it produced plans to reopen businesses in the area.

Dr. Raul Pino, the Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health, described how the delta variant carries 1000 times the viral load of previous variants. Vaccinated people may still become infected with the delta variant and may show no symptoms but can then transfer the virus to others. This is why those who are fully vaccinated still need to wear masks indoors, as we now see at Walt Disney World.

Guests wearing masks while indoors at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

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wdwmagicApr 14, 2022

This thread is going to take a break for a while until any changes are announced at Disney in regard to the last remaining mask requirements on transport.

Andrew CApr 14, 2022

If we are talking about WDW, put the blame on the company for keeping this silly rule in place. For airplanes, put the blame on the feds. When people realize stupid rules are in place and have no impact, they are going to be challenged. That’s just human nature and the reality throughout history. On the other end, when rules tend to make sense, people are more receptive. WDWs transportation rule is illogical. The feds 14 day extension of the public transportation rule at this point is the same. Expect more push back. It’s all about appearances than anything else and more and more people will pick up on that.

Chip ChippersonApr 14, 2022

No, you're not following the rules. You're planning the mask version of holding your finger an in from your siblings face and saying, "I'm not touching you!" And for the record, on my recent flights, the message was that masks had to be replaced between bites/sips, so unless you plan on holding g a drink to your mouth for the entire flight then you're not following the rules - but if you do that, please report back and let us know of how that worked out for you during turbulence.

Club CooloholicApr 14, 2022

I already explained it. It slows things down and makes it harder for the employees. And some might not really want to sit for 3 hours on a flight next to a guy sipping coffee the whole time.

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

I don’t understand why you’re mad at me.

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

There. Fixed the stupid. Now, go create ANOTHER account for me to ignore. :rolleyes:

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

Thanks for understanding

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

Okay.

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

God bless, but no thank you.

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

They are flag carriers for the socially inept and the self-important. They have one job here. It's stupid but they're going to do it.

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

Just go back to your regular account. Please? For everyone.

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

What can I say? I’m so lonely at this stage in my life, that the (virtual) company of people who hate me is better than the alternative, which is no company at all.

DisneyCaneApr 14, 2022

Hence why I asked the poster if they were intending to only experience outdoor attractions with outdoor queues. If yes, then I can at least understand their logic. If no, then the obsession about people not masking on transportation doesn't make any sense.