ORLANDO, Fla. — Haunted houses at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights will use clear vinyl to separate guests and scare actors this year as a precaution against the transmission of COVID-19, a resort spokeswoman said.
The vinyl will be installed “in key locations” of the houses to allow for safe interactions between scare actors and guests, said Alyson Solo, senior director of public relations.
Team members and performers will also be required to wear face coverings indoors during the event, she said, in accordance with the resort’s employee mask guidelines.
It was not immediately clear what these vinyl partitions might look like. Last year, thin sheets of plexiglass separated scare actors and guests at locations within the theme park’s modified haunted house offerings where the two could potentially come into close contact. Scare actors were also required to wear masks as part of their costumes in the 2020 houses.
Universal has not disclosed whether guest parties will be staggered inside the houses, which are enclosed, indoor areas where spacing can be tight.
Halloween Horror Nights will follow current COVID-19 policies at Universal Studios, Solo said, where guests are encouraged, but not required, to wear face coverings indoors.
This year’s Halloween Horror Nights will include 10 haunted houses and five outdoor scare zones as the event celebrates its 30th year. It starts Friday, Sept. 3, and runs Wednesdays through Sundays until Oct. 31.
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