Since cinemas across the country have been forced to close due to COVID-19, there may be a lasting effect on the industry once the pandemic is over.
As cinemas come to life across the country, the National Association of Theatre Owners is helping to eliminate the conjecture of operational practices in the COVID-19 era.
The industry organization on Friday announced a set of fitness and protection protocols based on studies and rules from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. More than three hundred corporations representing more than 2,600 movie theaters in the United States have already joined the CinemaSafe program.
“In this new pandemic world, moviegoers want to know that there is a coherent, science-based set that revels in existing fitness and protection protocols, regardless of the theater they are visiting,” John Fithian, president and executive leader of the official association, said in a statement. “This unprecedented effort across the industry is a promise designed to meet this desire.” RELATED: AMC Theaters reopens cautiously after five months of closure due to COVID-19 pandemic
The rules describe comprehensive mask policies, which are required for workers and clients, with some exceptions for young people under 2 years of age and when they consume concessions, but only when approved by national and local fitness authorities. Regulations stipulate that a mask should also be provided to workers who do not have a mask.
They also define recommendations for reduced capacity detection, air filtration optimization, cashless concessions, cellular ticketing, advanced cleaning policies, and physical education for workers on hand hygiene and COVID-19 symptoms and symptoms.
The agreement has been in operation for months to expand regulations in consultation with epidemiologists and industry experts. The organization’s board of directors includes executives from primary exhibition chains such as AMC Entertainment, Cinemark and Cineworld/Regal.
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Most closed theaters closed in mid-March to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. This week, major U.S. theater networks began slowly reopening venues. Although many reported complying with local mandates and accepted the most productive practices, so far there has been no industry-wide set of guidelines. This lack of oversight has resulted in conditions such as the mask game, which has led all major exhibitors to the opposite course to demand masks.
CinemaSafe protocols are voluntary. Companies that comply with the rules will likely display a CinemaSafe badge on their Internet sites and, in all likelihood, on their sites for consumers to be informed.
Dr. David F. Goldsmith, a labor and environmental epidemiologist at the Milken School of Public Health at George Washington University Milken, reviewed CinemaSafe guidelines.
“These protocols, and the way they have been developed, demonstrate a serious and complete effort in the movie theater owners component to review all facets of their operations, identify potential hazards and them,” Goldsmith said.
Dr Joyce Sanchez, an infectious disease specialist and director of Travel Health Clinic at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, said the protocols address: “Two of the 3 general concepts that take activity into account: distance, dosage, and duration. “
Sanchez said the duration may not be controlled, but noted that filming times for the films are those of a domestic flight or the time spent in a restaurant.
“While there are dangers related to any outdoor activity at home, these additional measures can help mitigate them,” he added.