Throughout lockdown, Chester Zoo has been busy making changes to its park to ensure that guests will be safe when the government announces that attractions can reopen. The team at the park have installed an array of new physical safety measures to enforce social distancing rules and avoid a second outbreak.
Self-scanning ticket lanes, floor markings to clearly indicate 2-metre distances, multiple hand sanitisation points, signage and protective screens and been applied to all of the key locations and service areas. Visitor numbers will also be limited, when the 128-acre site reopens, with all guests having to book in advance on a new web page dedicated to online bookings.
In addition to these changes, all of the indoor animal habitats will remain closed, along with the restaurants and cafes on-site, to avoid large gatherings of people. Outdoor food and drink kiosks will, however, remain open, along with additional picnic areas. Fully trained staff will be monitoring the park to ensure guests are kept well apart.
Hard surfaces within the park, such as touchscreen computers and cash machines, will be covered and out of use, and viewing windows will have one-metre barriers to prevent touching. Deep cleaning will also be an ongoing process throughout the park.
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased financial pressure on many businesses throughout the world, and Chester Zoo is no different. In a statement online the attraction said “the zoo still has incredibly high costs to ensure that each and every one of the 35,000 animals here receives the exact same level of care and attention they are accustomed to. Being unable to open and welcome any guests at all for so long now means we’ve been having to do this with little coming in.”
Visitor revenue makes up for around 97% of Chester Zoo’s revenue meaning it is likely the attraction will open its doors as soon as the government allows, although no set date has been released as of yet.
Earlier last month Chester Zoo announced the launch of their “Pokémon Go” style app, where children can interact with animals from the comfort of their own home.
