Visitors unable to leave Shanghai Disney after COVID-19 lockdown announced 

Shanghai’s Disney Resort abruptly ceased all operations on Monday to comply with the country’s strict COVID-19 prevention measures, leaving all visitors trapped inside the park until they can provide a negative test for the virus. 

At 11:39 a.m. local time, the resort announced it was immediately shutting down the main theme park and surrounding areas until further notice to comply with the COVID-19 guidelines set by the Chinese health authorities. 

All of the park’s visitors were prevented from entering or exiting the park until their test results were ready.

Videos shared on social media show crowds of park-goers rushing to the park’s gates, but unable to leave as staff locked the park’s gates. Another video shows people taking tests as the park’s fireworks go off in the background. 

Thousands are trapped inside Shanghai Disney and are not allowed to exit until they’re tested for COVID, as the Chinese government’s strict zero-COVID policy goes into effect again. pic.twitter.com/3Ur52L41qy

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) October 31, 2022

🇨🇳 Shanghai Disney Resort abruptly shut its doors Monday as Chinese authorities imposed a snap lockdown, trapping guests who were not permitted to leave until they tested negative for Covidpic.twitter.com/RPUhV0npd1

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) October 31, 2022

Social media users reported that the theme park continued to operate its rides for the visitors who were stuck inside the park. 

Additionally, anyone who has visited the park since October 27 will be required to test for COVID-19 three times in three days. 

The sudden closure of the park is the latest disruption that has taken place at the Shanghai Disney Resort, which was shut down for over three months earlier this year during the city’s strict COVID-19 lockdown. 

In November of last year, the park closed for two days with more than 30,000 visitors inside, all of which had to be tested to leave. 

Shanghai reported 10 positive COVID-19 cases that were locally transmitted on Saturday, all of which were asymptomatic. China reported 479 cases and more than 2,200 asymptomatic cases on Monday. 

Shanghai Disney Resort announced that it will be closed indefinitely starting on October 31 due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

"We will notify guests as soon as we have a confirmed date to resume operations," the park said in a statement on Monday.