Excited about your joyous return to movie theatres? Don't forget these 7 safety guidelines
In case you missed it, cinemas are now allowed to operate in Metro Manila after the government declared a level three status of quarantine in the area. Under this level, places that promote leisure activities such as cinemas, theatres, theme parks, swimming pools, libraries, museums, and other tourist attractions can now open their doors to the public.
Last Saturday, October 20, 2021, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) announced that movie theatres in the National Capital Region (NCR) can open their doors again at a minimum of 30 per cent capacity. The ordinance-providing body added that only fully-vaccinated individuals are allowed inside.
See also: Movie Buffs Rejoice! 7 Movies to Watch as Cinemas Reopen in Metro Manila
Are Cinemas Safe Amid The Pandemic? Here's What Experts Say
Audiences are expected to throng the theatres to watch highly-anticipated film releases this year. However, experts say that this may not be a good idea at all. In a report by The Guardian, Stephen Griffin, a virologist at Leeds University, revealed that utilising movie theatres amid the global pandemic is not risk-free. “If you have 300 people in the cinema, the average chance is you’ll have three to four people infected in that cinema,” he said. “Are these things safe? The honest answer is you can’t say it’s completely risk-free.”
In the same report, Prof Tim Sharpe, head of architecture at the University of Strathclyde, noted that long-range movement of small virus-carrying aerosols can rapidly accumulate in poorly ventilated spaces. “If you’re right next to somebody then clearly the risk is increased, both in immediate contact and droplet transmission," the expert said.
Meanwhile, Shaun Fitzgerald, director of research in the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge, assured that moviegoers can enjoy the cinemas as long as they provide relatively good ventilation. “Most theatres that I am aware of are mechanically ventilated [and] if they’ve been reasonably well maintained and not built in the distant past, the ventilation will be good, which is encouraging."
While going out for a movie day poses health concerns, folks who experience pandemic fatigue may envision recently-reopened cinemas as a pool of water amidst the desert. If going inside theatres seem inevitable, here are seven polite behaviours the movie buffs should consider inside:
