As cases of the coronavirus rise in Florida, workers at Disney World have created an online petition calling on the amusement park’s parent company to keep the park closed.
More than 8,000 people, including some park employees, signed the petition stating that the Disney World park was not an essential business and should remain closed.
“This virus is not gone, unfortunately it’s only become worse in this state,” reads the petition posted on MoveOn.org. “While theme parks are a great way to relax and enjoy free time, it is a non-essential business; it is not fair to the people who work there to risk their lives, especially if they are at risk or have family members who are at risk. People are more important than making a profit.”
The Disney theme park in Orlando, Florida, employs more than 70,000 people and will begin a phased reopening on July 11. A Disney representative assured CNN reporter Frank Pallotta that the company was doing everything in its power to adopt strict safety measures for workers of the park.
“We are in active dialogue with our unions on extensive health and safety protocols,” said the Disney representative.
Workers said, however, that they want the park to remain closed until the coronavirus no longer posed a risk to their health. On Tuesday, Florida health officials reported more than 3,000 new cases of the coronavirus.
“Reconsider the opening of theme parks and resorts until a time when COVID-19 cases are no longer rising and no longer posing risk of spreading this disease to our working cast/team members, their families, and our theme park guests,” added the petition.
