Covid hits Disneyland; salaried employees, part-time workers to be laid off in December

Paris icon Eiffel Tower closed its gates to vistors more in Mid March as France battled the coronavirus pandemic. With more than three months to that day, the 10-tonne metal landmark is now ready to emerge from its longest closure since World War II.

In a statement on its website, the operators said that the icon will be open to the public from June 25, albeit with restrictions. There will be a limit on the number of visitos, face masks will be mandatory for all, and visits will be by stairs only and not be the elevator to ensure social distancing.

The old normal life isn't back, but you can still hike to Grand Canyon National Park, as long as you follow some restrictions. The park began limited daily access from May 29 and allowed 24-hour access along with lodging from June 5.

However, as of now existing backcountry permits will be honoured, but the park won't issue any new permits.

Come July and people in Paris will once again be able to admire the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.

While France has allowed museums and historic sites to reopen their doors this month, the Louvre - that has been closed since March 13 - has decided to wait till July 6 before letting art lovers in.

Online reservations will open on June 15.

Shanghai that began its fight against Covid-19 in January, saw life return to a sense of normal as tourists, equipped with masks, returned to Disneyland three months later. o

The park reopened its doors on May 11, providing a ray of hope to other mass entertainment venues on surviving and functioning in the pandemic.

After reopening Shanghai Disneyland, the company is now working on plans to reopen its theme parks in California next month, albeit at a significantly limited capacity, and with no opportunities to hug Mickey Mouse or high-five Donald Duck for the time being.

The plans, that still require government approval, will see the resort near Los Angeles, including Disneyland and Disney California Adventure welcome visitors back beginning July 17.

Disneyland is the world's second-most visited theme park, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each day, but it closed in mid-March due to coronavirus concerns.

(Text inputs: AFP)