COVID-19 continues to rise across the country, but movie theaters are making plans to open doors next month. Regal announced that it would reopen the locations beginning August 21. The company published its new security guidelines on its website. In particular, although masks will be required in the lobby, hallways and bathing places, customers can remove them while eating or drinking in the auditorium, i.e. at any time while watching a movie, or for the entire movie if they wish. . However, employees must wear masks and undergo daily health screenings.
Theaters will switch to contactless payments only and will serve limited menu items, with self-service stations closed. Any other cash register will be empty. All theaters will have an expendable hand sanitizer and greetings to ensure guests follow the proper guidelines. Maximum auditorium capacity will be reduced by 50%, when required by county or state guidelines. The guidelines did not specify whether this will be the case in areas where state or county guidelines do not require limited capacity. The auditoriums will be disinfected after each screening.
Many great summer movies have been delayed for later release due to the coronavirus pandemic, forcing theaters to close. Christopher Nolan’s Beginning It has been hit multiple times in the past few months, but will now premiere internationally in August before its premiere in select theaters in the United States on September 3. Other summer titles were released later this fall, with some like Mulan (originally slated to debut in March) persistent with no release date at all.
The full list of Regal’s safety guidelines can be found on its website.
