Disney World, Universal Orlando drop COVID temperature checks

Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando are relaxing some of their COVID-19 protocols, which have been in place since the Florida theme parks reopened last summer.

Universal Orlando visitors will no longer have to undergo temperature checks before entering the park and the social-distancing gap has been reduced from 6 feet to 3, Universal announced on its website.

“Still, most of our original safety protocols remain unchanged,” it said, “from wearing face coverings across our Resort to our ongoing dedication to cleanliness and sanitization.”

Disney World said it would begin phasing out temperature checks for visitors at all locations that currently require them starting May 16. Up until the announcement, visitors needed to have their temperature checked before entering the four theme parks, the Disney Springs retail and restaurants within the Walt Disney World Resort complex.

Last week, the top health official in Orange County, Florida, Dr. Raul Pino, told reporters that temperature checks "make no difference" in the fight against COVID-19 and may be a waste of resources that would be of better used elsewhere.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Monday canceling remaining local COVID restrictions – including mask mandates.

While masks will no longer be required in public areas in Florida, privately owned businesses can still call their own shots, and Disney and Universal mask rules are still in place.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando drop COVID temperature checks