National Film Administration: Cinemas in low-risk areas can resume opening on July 20

The National Film Administration issued the latest notice today on July 16, instructing on the orderly promotion of the reopening of cinemas under the normal conditions of epidemic prevention and control. It stated that low-risk areas can resume operations in an orderly manner on July 20, provided that various prevention and control measures in cinemas are effectively implemented.

Once a low-risk area is adjusted to a medium- or high-risk area, the epidemic prevention and control regulations must be strictly enforced, and prevention and control measures must be strictly implemented. Cinemas must suspend operations in a timely manner as required.

The National Film Administration also issued the "China Film Distribution and Exhibition Association's Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Epidemics in the Reopening of Film Screening Venues", which states:

Do a good job of entrance detection: Movie theaters should be equipped with temperature measurement facilities and equipment, and have dedicated personnel on duty. Register audience information, check body temperature, and those who are not wearing masks and have a body temperature of 37.3 degrees or above are not allowed to enter. Provide hand disinfectants at the entrance of the cinema to guide employees and audiences to do a good job of hand hygiene.

Adjustment of ticket sales method: All tickets will be sold through online real-name reservation and contactless method; cross-seat ticket sales will be implemented to ensure that strangers are at least 1 meter apart; the occupancy rate of each show shall not exceed 30%.

Establish a duty system: arrange dedicated personnel to carry out on-site management and supervise staff and audiences entering the theater area to wear masks throughout the entire process and sit in the designated seats; in principle, snacks and drinks are not sold at movie screening venues, and eating and drinking are prohibited in the theater in principle.

Arrange screenings reasonably: movie theaters should reduce the number of screenings, cut the daily screening schedule to half of the normal period, control the viewing time, with each show not exceeding two hours, extend the intermission time between screenings, and fully clean and disinfect the theaters; different theaters should schedule screenings at different times to avoid the gathering of audiences entering and leaving the theaters.