Japan’s new theme park rules mean no screaming on rollercoasters

Of all the new regulations and protocols being implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19, as the world opens up again, one particular guideline issued by Japanese amusement park operators may prove somewhat tricky to implement.

The East Japan and West Japan Theme Park Associations is made up of more than 30 amusement park operators across the country, including Tokyo Disneyland, DisneySea and Universal Studios Japan. Major theme parks in Japan have been closed since February, and as the country slowly opens up again, the association issued a set of guidelines in June to ensure the safety of both guests and staff, CNN reported in June. As part of its document, “Guidelines to Prevent the Spread of Infection of the Novel Coronavirus,” it says that guests on rollercoasters and other similar attractions should wear masks and are urged to refrain from shouting and screaming on the ride.

Wondering how this could be possible? Fuji-Q Highland, an amusement park, released a video showing that it can in fact be done. The clip shows two men in masks riding on a rollercoaster - and managing to refrain from any screams.

So, it seems it can be done by some in order to curb the spread of the virus. Luckily there are other measures that are put in place at theme parks, and include increased sanitising measures, regular body temperature checks and social distancing. In situations where wearing face masks is difficult for some employees due to the nature of their work, they are advised to keep at least one metre away from visitors. It is also recommended that conversations are kept as short as possible, with a combination of "smiley eyes" and hand gestures being used to communicate with visitors.

This article was originally published on 1 June and updated on 10 July, 2020.

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