Hong Kong Disneyland to close again due to surge in coronavirus cases

HONG KONG — A second outbreak is forcing Disneyland Hong Kong to close for a second time due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hong Kong Disneyland had reopened on June 18 after cases in the region dropped and less than a month later, it will close again to comply with government rules.

At least 52 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Hong Kong Monday of which 41 that were locally transmitted, according to Reuters.

“As required by the government and health authorities in line with prevention efforts taking place across Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland park will temporarily close from July 15,” Disney said in a press release Monday obtained by the Wall Street Journal.

Hotels at the property will remain open, according to Carrie Lam, Hong Kong Disneyland’s chief executive.

The closure comes on the heels of the reopening of Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida, the first parks to open in a planned phased reopening of the park. Disney World’s other two parks, Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, are slated to open July 15.

All of the Florida parks were first closed in mid-March in an effort to stop the virus’s spread.

In Florida, where parts of Walt Disney World reopened, 15,299 people tested positive, for a total of 269,811 cases, and 45 deaths were recorded, according to state Department of Health statistics reported Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Cox Media Group