All Indonesian cinemas to reopen simultaneously on July 29, Covid-19 protocols prepared

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 10:23 am

Good news comes for movie lovers. Cinemas across Indonesia will soon be reopened. Previously cinemas were closed to prevent transmission of the coronavirus (Covid-19).

This was announced by the Indonesia Cinema Management Association (GPBSI) which said it would resume cinema operational activities starting Wednesday, July 29, 2020, simultaneously throughout Indonesia.

The chairman of GPBSI, Djonny Syafruddin said that mall entrepreneurs need up to three weeks to prepare health protocols in theaters. GPBSI comprises several movie theater chains in Indonesia such as Cinema XXI, CGV, Cinepolis, Dakota Cinema, Platinum, and New Star Cineplex.

“The cinema industry players have discussed and agreed to be able to return to cinema operational activities starting Wednesday, July 29, 2020, simultaneously throughout Indonesia,” he said in the official statement, Tuesday, July 7.

Djonny said that his party was currently preparing to implement the health protocol in theaters before opening on July 29.

The health protocol that must be applied by the cinema is also regulated in a Decree (SK) Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Office of Tourism and Creative Economy Number 140 of 2020. The maximum cinema audience is required to be only 50%.

In the decree, the use of masks, washing hands using soap or hand sanitizers, as well as maintaining distance is also mandatory, both by cinema employees and visitors.

Cinema must provide hand sanitizers. The cinema managers are also asked not to serve visitors who come not to use masks.

The preparation time of 2-3 weeks, said Djonny, will be used to ensure several things. The first is preparing communication materials and socializing the application of the new normal protocol in the cinema environment.

Then, the process of education and internal training related to the application of the new normal protocol in the cinema environment to all employees who will be on duty.

Last, communication to production houses related to the readiness of the film as well as promotional material that will be carried out after the cinema is again active.

Meanwhile, Epidemiologist Pandu Riono highlighted the problem of air circulation in the cinema room.

“If the protocol is applied, wear masks – keep the distance – wash hands, the risk (transmission) is low but not too low because in closed spaces the air circulation needs to be ensured good,” epidemiologist Pandu Riono said, as quoted by Detik on Tuesday, July 7.

“If the circulation is good, it does not matter (use aircon, red). Usually, in the aircon, there is a filter, so in every aircon, there is a virus filter called HEPA (High-Efficiency Particle) filter. It is also used in hospitals. how come for the COVID isolation room,” Pandu explained.

He also highlighted to the visitors that want to buy the ticket, better to buy it online.

“People also certainly do not buy tickets there (at the cinema). So because it is already (audience capacity is limited) 50%, so buy tickets online. They are directed there (buy tickets online) all so that the cinema is discovered. Then don’t forget to check the temperature (the body of each visitor, red), “he said.

Pandu said that managers must ensure that visitors implement health protocols. Including wear the masks and keep the distance.