California cinemas won’t open for months

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – California Governor Gavin Newsom has indicated in his daily briefing that cinemas in the state aren’t likely to open anytime soon, in fact the possibility is “months, not weeks” away.

Newsom has reportedly detailed a four-stage plan to reopen the economy with cinemas not safe to reopen until the state reaches ‘Stage 3’. ‘Stage 1’ is the current stage, with ‘Stage 2’ involving the reopening of ‘lower-risk workplaces’ with retail and manufacturing among the first to reopen. Public spaces could also reopen along with offices in which telework is not possible.

Stage 3 is the reopening of higher-risk businesses and personal services which include close physical contact – salons, gyms, cinemas, sports without live audiences, weddings and other in-person religious services. Stage 4 is the effective end of the stay-at-home order with concerts, live-audience sports and other large events and venues able to reopen.

At present Stage 2 is weeks away, stage 3 is months away with July seemingly the goal for various businesses as a potential re-opening date, and stage 4 likely won’t happen until a vaccine/treatment arrives. Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” on July 17th is currently the first big film on the schedule.

A recent Reuters poll however says that only 40% of Americans are willing to return to cinemas without a coronavirus vaccine.