After five months of being shut down, AMC Theatres are finally starting to open back up in certain states. AMC Entertainment, the owner of the AMC Theatres, said that it expects to open the doors to more than 100 cinemas—about a sixth of its nationwide locations—on Aug. 20, according to the Associated Press.
AMC opened its theaters in Chattanooga on August 27, but the theater on Gunbarrel Road in East Brainerd will be permanently closed.
There are many restrictions that are in place to protect the health of moviegoers and ensure that the theaters stay open. Masks are required for all patrons and employees, and those without a mask will not be allowed to enter. Social distancing is required at all times between patrons, except those that are family members or those that attend together.
In addition, theaters now have reduced seating capacity, air filtration systems with increased ventilation wherever possible, frequent hand washing for employees and patrons, hand sanitizer placed in easily accessible public areas, daily health screenings for employees, enhanced cleaning procedures between showings, health training so that employees recognize the symptoms of COVID-19, mobile ticketing, and modified concessions to minimize cash transactions. They have ceased offering communal food and food that requires utensils and encourage people to stay home if they are not feeling well.
There are a few states that still do not have plans for opening cinemas soon, including New York, North Carolina, and New Mexico. Other states are opening by region with various capacity restrictions. These states are Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Hawaii, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island. (Cinemasafe.org)
Most U.S. cinemas have been closed since March. Many moviegoers have a fear of going back due to the fact that Tennessee currently has a cumulative number 202,000 COVID-19 cases and Georgia has 308,000 cases. These numbers might increase as more movie theaters open up. Hopefully, everyone can continue to follow the rules so that we can all stay safe, protect others and drive case numbers down.