News: Cedar Point’s mask rule ignites firestorm of fan protests on social media

I disagree Matt. I believe it would be very easy to enforce, but I agree the park is not likely to do it.

A dozen extra CP Cops or Security roaming the midways in pairs reminding people actively walking that masks are required at all times except in designated areas. A photo is taken of offenders and told if they don’t comply they will be asked to leave. 3rd strike and the belligerents are escorted out.

Once it is known the policy Is actually enforced compliance will follow.

Even if they do great at enforcing it, it will only be a matter of time before someone purposely lets it fly off a coaster just so they can say "Welp. This was a dumb idea. I'm not buying your overpriced mask now!". Then what? Toss them out, give them a free mask, let them walk around without it?

If they don’t toss them out the mask rule will be all but gone in a couple of weeks.

Personally, I think the rule will change, sooner rather than later...but not until the park has been open at least a few days, and probably not until they get past the passholder preview. Once the park is open to "everyone" and we get an idea of how "normal people" act, the park will figure out whether it is workable or not, and whether the language needs to change. Note also that the existing State regulations on 'social distancing' and business re-opening rules are currently set to expire on July 1 (though may be extended, of course). Which means the State rules may be fully expired by the time the park opens.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I tend to think the park has made their bed at this point, and now they are going to sleep in it for better or worse. The governor's office reviewed the submitted plans to reopen for both Kings Island and Cedar Point, to change those plans in anyway just a few days after reopening seems unlikely to be met with approval. Combine that with the possibility of a second or third wave of the virus before the end of the year, and I think the park tried to make a plan that leaves them with the best chance to actually remain open for as many days as possible.

Judging by what I've seen on Twitter, the attitude is generally "wear the mask to get through the gate and then take it off because they can't throw us all out."

So yeah, CP security is going to have their hands full trying to enforce this. The young punks will be especially keen on flaunting this rule but I'm seeing a lot of "muh freedoms" jerks on Twitter who think the rule is stupid, COVID is a hoax, and they have absolutely NO intention of wearing a mask in the park. There will probably be loud arguments with the staff and I wouldn't be surprised if a few punches are thrown later in the evening as some of the guests get some beer in them. This could get ugly.

99er said:

Even if they do great at enforcing it, it will only be a matter of time before someone purposely lets it fly off a coaster just so they can say "Welp. This was a dumb idea. I'm not buying your overpriced mask now!". Then what? Toss them out, give them a free mask, let them walk around without it?

My guess? Give them a free mask. They're available now, and I'm sure CP can get a good deal on a bulk buy.

First, the title of this thread could be Cedar Point literally makes any rule or announcement, igniting firestorm on social media. Personally I’m on the fence about going. I’d wear a mask, and deal just fine but not sure if it’s worth the hassle with social distancing measures there. Not their fault it’s just how it is right now. I’m also glad most people here are of sound mind when it comes to staying safe and keeping others safe. Remember it’s not just random strangers around us at the park it’s also other pointbuzzers. Stay safe everyone and I’ll (maybe) see you at the park.

SarahB1863 said:

...later in the evening as some of the guests get some beer in them.

Reading this gave me an idea. The park really shouldn't allow ANY sales, nor entering of a queue or building, without asking a guest who isn't wearing a mask to put it on. Sure it will be hard to enforce masks while just walking around the park but once you leave a midway, there is likely someone already there to not allow you in without a mask on. Basically how Magic Kingdom polices hard ticket event nights. You might be able to walk around for awhile without a wristband but try to enter a ride or buy something and you'll be denied.

If they defined areas of requirement (such as buildings, station platforms, etc) and made strong recommendations elsewhere, they would probably get better compliance, fewer complaints, and easier enforcement.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

RideMan said:

If they defined areas of requirement (such as buildings, station platforms, etc) and made strong recommendations elsewhere, they would probably get better compliance, fewer complaints, and easier enforcement.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

True, but that would also make everyone a lot less safe. The CDC recommends everyone wear masks in any public place where there's a lot of people. Saying "You have to wear a mask here but not here" will encourage spread of the virus. That's why I'm not a fan of "mask-free zones". It's not like the virus won't spread in those areas. It's going to spread wherever it darn well wants to.

IMO while traveling on the midways the masks should be strictly enforced however there needs to be some reasonableness about this as well. If one needs to hydrate or take a quick breather pulling off to the side and leaning on a fence or taking a seat on a retaining wall and getting a rest should be allowed as a stationary person is easy to avoid. Not so much a moving target.

SarahB1863 said:

(defined cover required zones)...would also make everyone a lot less safe. The CDC recommends everyone wear masks in any public place where there's a lot of people. ...

I disagree. You're speaking as though the midways at Cedar Point are large crowds like Main Street Disneyland at fireworks time. But the fact is, unless you're in the park on a Saturday in October, that's just not the case. Park capacity limits combined with the apparent non-use of ride scheduling means the midways are going to be mostly empty most of the time. Encounters with other people are going to be minimal and fleeting at worst which...mask or no mask...minimizes exposure to each other's filth to begin with; being outdoors further minimizes the risk.

By the way, in Ohio my statistical estimate of the number of active cases (based on contagion ending 12 days after symptom onset) is about 4,400 (4,392), and assuming a 70% undercount AND assuming that the 4,392 known cases all stay home, your odds of meeting an uncounted active case in Ohio are about 1:1000 (actually 0.93:1000), or slightly better than last week. That's assuming *all* of the uncounted cases are asymptomatic (they aren't), going about their business (they aren't) and evenly distributed across the state (also not true). A statistically average day at Cedar Point would be about 17,000 people, so if we assume an attendance cap of 10,000 people, that means 9 or 10 infected people using extremely pessimistic assumptions. Of course that also assumes Ohioans which we also know not to be valid, but I haven't been tracking stats for other states.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Gonna need to do your math over with Michigan numbers as well. Detroit was a hot spot and a major market for Cedar Point. For all the assuming you did, Dave, you didn't assume people from out of state will be there as well. I agree it is still probably low risk, but maybe not as low as you assume.

True, although there is a lot of pessimism in the numbers. Adding in the Michigan numbers would be interesting, but difficult to do in a reasonable way since the subset of the Michigan population coming to Cedar Point is small compared to the State population. Maybe if we had data for, say, everything Southeast of IR-69...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

And if Cedar Point ends up being anything like Universal has been, you won't come close to another person. I wasn't around anyone at Universal unlike at Publix or Target where people were not only within 6' of me, they actually bumped into me.

Did you take a shower?

RideMan said:

By the way, in Ohio my statistical estimate of the number of active cases (based on contagion ending 12 days after symptom onset) is about 4,400 (4,392), and assuming a 70% undercount AND assuming that the 4,392 known cases all stay home, your odds of meeting an uncounted active case in Ohio are about 1:1000 (actually 0.93:1000), or slightly better than last week. That's assuming *all* of the uncounted cases are asymptomatic (they aren't), going about their business (they aren't) and evenly distributed across the state (also not true). A statistically average day at Cedar Point would be about 17,000 people, so if we assume an attendance cap of 10,000 people, that means 9 or 10 infected people using extremely pessimistic assumptions. Of course that also assumes Ohioans which we also know not to be valid, but I haven't been tracking stats for other states.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Your making my brain hurt Dave

https://vimeo.com/65921206

And I'm no math guy myself. But by now (I have only been here since 1999) you should know that making other peoples' brains hurt is a specialty of mine.

On the one hand I like to keep the math to a minimum. On the other hand I like to show my work so that people who are better at it can show me where I messed up...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Red Garter Rob said:

Did you take a shower?

I didn't need Covid to happen for me to take a shower after someone comes into contact with me. I have always disliked people and their lack of hygiene :)