CRNTT:
At present, cinemas and theaters in low-risk areas have not been reopened. Is there any plan to open them? Thank you.
Shi Xiaoming:
Thanks for your question, and especially for your attention to cinema and theater businesses. Cinemas, theaters and game centers share one common feature – namely, a relatively closed space with poor air circulation. Meanwhile, people tend to gather and spend a relatively long period of time at these places. Thus, we have to pay especially close attention to them in regard to epidemic prevention and control.
On May 7, the State Council issued the Guidelines on Conducting COVID-19 Prevention and Control on an Ongoing Basis. According to the document, areas with a low epidemic risk rating were allowed to reopen confined venues such as cinemas, theaters and game centers. However, there is a precondition: These places must fully implement a full range of COVID-19 prevention and control measures due to their relatively higher risk of spreading the disease.
At the same time, Ms. Wang just mentioned that if any area is classified as a medium/high-risk area, all such venues there immediately have to close again. For those low-risk areas planning to reopen cinemas and theaters, they must implement the following six important measures for epidemic prevention and control.
First, prepare medical supplies, including face masks, hand sanitizers and disinfectants, and a suitable emergency plan.
Second, monitor the health of their staff, who must all wear masks and clean their hands at regular intervals while working.
Third, all the staff and customers entering the venue should have their body temperature taken. Nobody with an abnormal body temperature will be allowed to enter.
Fourth, ensure adequate ventilation and air exchange to the fullest possible extent, and use air conditioning scientifically and reasonably.
Fifth, clean and disinfect all the public facilities, especially those to be used frequently, including the surface of seats, 3D glasses and armrests.
Sixth, a reservation system should be adopted, and the audience size should be strictly controlled; the time people spend in the closed environment should be shortened as much as possible. The Guidance issued today stipulates the time spent in a closed environment should be less than two hours. In addition, we should continue to implement general protective measures, such as wearing face masks, cleaning our hands, keeping one-meter distance, as well as non-contact payment, so as to minimize risks to the fullest extent. Thank you.
