As a few states have ????? ?????? ??????allowed movie theaters to open to the public in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, some that are choosing to get back to business have surprising new security regulations.
One theater chain in Texas, EVO, plans on opening with an "airport security-style check-in" on Monday, EVO Entertainment Inc. CEO Mitchell Roberts told VarietyFriday. This includes asking people if they have had flu symptoms or have been around someone with flu symptoms in the last 14 days along with an infrared temperature scan. If theatergoers have a temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, they will be turned away. Patrons will also be required to wear masks.
Another chain, Santikos, will require employees to wear masks, but not customers, according to Variety. Both chains will implement spaced seating and new cleaning regimens.
The CDC and top infectious disease experts recommend wearing masks as an effective way to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
While some states like New York are requiring people to wear masks in public when social distancing of at least six feet is not possible, Texas does not have the same rules.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott started allowing some establishments to reopen on Friday, including restaurants, retail shops, and movie theaters, with guidelines on limits for the amount of people that can be let in to these spaces. Movie theaters can only operate at 25 percent of their usual capacity (or 50 percent in rural counties) with employees making sure people are social distancing and regularly cleaning parts of the theaters that are frequently touched, the Texas Tribunereported. Although Texas asks that employees at restaurants wears face masks, the state has made it clear that it won't require diners and shoppers to do so.
SEE ALSO: 16 must-see movies and shows coming to Netflix this summerHowever, many business owners have decided to remain closed despite the state's relaxed rules. Larger theater chains like AMC and Cinemark, for example, do not plan to reopen in either state as of right now, and many restaurants have remained closed or stuck to take-out and delivery only.
Texas reported nearly 1,300 new positive cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, the second-highest daily jump since reporting started. The state has a total of about 30,100 cases. Meanwhile, Georgia has about 28,300 cases, with an increase of about 840 cases from Friday night to Saturday night. (While the jump in numbers is worrying, it can't be directly connected to reopening at this point. Both states have also ramped up testing.)
Topics COVID-19