Fact check: California rollercoaster riders are not banned from screaming because of COVID-19

The claim: California amusement parks are banning screaming on thrill rides to prevent the spread of COVID-19

The screams and squeals of thrill-seeking amusement park goers have been silent for much of the last year as operators parked their rides during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A meme circulating on social media would have you believe those reactions would have to remain muted, though, even after California parks welcome back patrons.

The photo shows a screenshot of a television report that says there would be a “new ‘no scream’ policy on roller coasters” that would be enforced at Disneyland. A second altered photo replaces rollercoaster riders with the purse-lipped, temple-throbbing face from another internet meme.

The industry group that developed guidelines for amusement park reopening in California responded to the claim, pointing out that it never recommended parks ban yelling or screaming on rides.

A Facebook user who shared the meme did not respond to a request for comment.

Fact check: Video warning of a pandemic was created in 2020 as satire, not 1956

California’s amusement parks guidelines

On March 5, California’s Department of Public Health released new rules for theme parks and outdoor ballparks and stadiums to reopen effective April 1.

In a press release, the department said its rules update included “significantly reduced capacity, mandatory masking and other public health precautions.” Amusement park capacity is determined by the threat level for the county where they are located.

For example, parks in counties under the state’s most serious threat level must remain closed, while those in counties where COVID-19 cases aren’t spreading as quickly can have up to 35% of their maximum capacity.

Eleven California counties were at the most serious threat level as of March 22. Another 42, though, were in the next tier as of March 22, which would allow parks in those counties to welcome visitors at about 15% of maximum capacity.

None of those rules suggest that the state is requiring amusement parks to ban screaming or shouting on rides, as theme parks in Japan did in 2020.

 (Photo: Getty Images)

Industry guidelines

Confusion about a ban on screaming in parks seemed to stem from guidelines the California Attractions and Parks Association issued.

The trade organization represents the state’s amusement parks and has board members from some of the state’s biggest attractions, including Disneyland, Six Flags and SeaWorld.

The group said in a prepared statement published March 18 on Twitter that it issued its own guidelines in September 2020, after California outlined its own plan for reopening businesses.

In the group’s “Responsible Reopening Plan,” it outlines steps parks can take to meet the criteria the state had laid out, including “ability to limit activities that are known to cause increased spread,” such as “singing, shouting and heavy breathing.”

Amusement parks can require face coverings and modify seat loading patterns “to mitigate the effects of shouting,” according to the plan, which notes that guests generally face one direction rather than each other.

“At no point has CAPA recommended limiting or prohibiting yelling or screaming on amusement park rides as a way to mitigate transmission of COVID-19,” the organization posted on Twitter. “California’s amusement parks are excited to reopen responsibly under the recently released state guidance for the amusement park industry. These guidelines do not require parks to prohibit screaming.”

USA TODAY corrected a story about the group’s recommendations on March 16.

Visitors wear their face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, as they ride the "Vortex" rollercoaster at the recently reopened Siam Amazing Park in in Bangkok, Thailand, June 17, 2020. (Photo: Sakchai Lalit, AP)

Our rating: False

The claim that California amusement parks are banning screaming on thrill rides to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is FALSE, based on our research. An industry group’s guidelines for reopening notes that singing, shouting and heavy breathing are known to cause increased spread, but it doesn’t say amusement parks should ban screaming. Its plan notes that face coverings and modified seat patterns on rides are required “to mitigate the effects of shouting.”

Our fact-check sources:

• California Department of Public Health, March 5, “State Updates Blueprint to Allow Additional Activities That Can Be Conducted Outdoors and with Consistent Masking, Which Reduces Risk of COVID-19 Spread for Safe and Sustainable Reopening”
• California Department of Public Health, accessed March 24, “Blueprint for a Safer Economy Activity and Business Tiers”
• California Department of Public Health, accessed March 22, “Current tier assignments as of March 16, 2021”
• USA TODAY, July 8, 2020, “Japan has a new rule for riding roller coasters: ‘Please scream inside your heart'”
• California Attractions and Parks Association, accessed March 24, “Board of Directors”
• California Attractions and Parks Association, accessed March 24, “Responsible Reopening Plan”
• USA TODAY, March 16, “With theme parks planning to reopen, California trade group has recommendations to address COVID and screaming”
• Twitter, March 18, California Attractions and Parks Association statement clarifying guidelines

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Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

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