“Cinemas and theaters are safe, closing them is a devastating decision” – Corriere.it

We express our opposition, along with a large part of the public opinion, to the hypothesis raised in the Dpcm on the suspension of the activities of theaters, cinemas and entertainment spaces. Agis President Carlo Fontana wrote this in a letter to Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Minister Dario Franceschini. Fontana specified that entertainment venues have proven to be among the safest spaces for social gatherings. A new closure of the activities of the sector, he added, would imply a blow that is difficult to overcome and a dramatic impact on the tens of thousands of workers and artists, already at the limit of their livelihoods due to the collapse of income. This would be a devastating decision for the entire country.

The minister’s response

Words that have not fallen on deaf ears. Minister Franceschini wrote on Twitter: Closing theaters and cinemas is a pain. But today the absolute priority is to protect the life and health of all, with all possible measures. We will work to ensure that the closure is as short as possible and as much and more than in recent months we will support entrepreneurs and cultural workers.