Reopen cinemas nationwide on Tet eve: culture ministry

Cinemas must have plans to prevent Covid-19 infections and cooperate with local health authorities to deal with outbreaks in case community infections are detected, the ministry has said.

Moviegoers will have to be fully vaccinated or furnish a certificate showing they have recovered from Covid and follow pandemic prevention measures.

The ministry encourages online booking of tickets and use automatic entry at cinemas to avoid contact with staff.

The ministry said the reopening of cinemas at this time is to meet residents’ entertainment demand during the nine-day Tet break, which begins Saturday. The reopening is also aimed at helping film production companies overcome financial woes caused by the pandemic.

On January 23, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had asked the ministry to consider reopening all cinemas nationwide during the new normal period after many film businesses in Hanoi urged the government reopen cinemas in the capital after prolonged shutdowns.

HCMC cinema theaters reopened in November but they remain closed in Hanoi and many other localities.