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China’s cinemas reopen as Covid-19 rules are eased – but distancing applies and popcorn is banned
- Rush for seats reported as limited capacity is allowed for cinemas in low-risk parts of the country
- Tourist resorts, libraries and museums are also allowed to reopen, while sports events could resume as emergency response level is lowered
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Cinemas in most areas of China were reopening from Monday after being closed for nearly six months because of the coronavirus, as various measures were relaxed with the domestic outbreak largely under control.
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Also beginning on Monday, Beijing’s parks, tourist resorts and indoor venues including gyms, libraries and museums were also allowed to open at half capacity, as the capital lowered its coronavirus emergency response level after reporting zero new domestic Covid-19 infections for 14 consecutive days.
Larger gatherings were given permission to take place subject to strict disinfection and ventilation measures, while exhibitions, sports matches and performances could be evaluated with a view to gradually resuming, the Beijing government announced on Sunday.
China had designated only two high-risk and three medium-risk areas as of Monday, all in Urumqi, in Xinjiang in the far west. The rest of the country was declared low-risk.
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Capital of China’s Xinjiang region placed under lockdown as coronavirus returns
Capital of China’s Xinjiang region placed under lockdown as coronavirus returns
The China Film Administration released a circular last Thursday allowing cinemas to reopen in low-risk areas. It stated that tickets must be booked online, no more than 30 per cent of seats could be occupied, and masks were compulsory. Groups of people, who were not allowed to sit in adjacent seats, had to be at least a metre apart from other individuals or groups, and food and drink were banned.
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