Six Flags Will Reopen Its First Park On June 5. Masks Are Mandatory.

TOPLINE

Six Flags will reopen its first park in Oklahoma on June 5, requiring all attendees to wear masks and undergo temperature checks, making it one of the first major theme parks in the U.S. to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic.

KEY FACTS

Crucial quote

 “Frontier City, like all Six Flags parks, is an outdoor attraction that poses a significantly lower risk of exposure than indoor venues … Because our parks cover dozens or even hundreds of acres, we can easily manage guest throughput to achieve proper social distancing,” said Six Flags President and CEO Mike Spanos.

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Masks have become part of the culture wars, as some defiantly choose to go mask-free because, they say, such public health requirements infringe on their personal freedom. The view is shared by President Donald Trump, who refuses to wear a mask at public events despite his own government’s recommendation to do so.

KEY BACKGROUND

Six Flags’ safety measures resemble Disney
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, which opened a part of its Florida resort last week. Disney Springs, the shopping, dining and entertainment district inside Disney World’s Orlando resort also requires guests to wear masks and includes hand washing stations, social distancing markers on the ground, propped-open trash cans to ensure no touching and a temperature check in a parking garage.

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