ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York City movie theaters can open their doors again at limited capacity starting March 5, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday.
Movie theaters can only operate at 25% capacity, with no more than 50 people per screening, Cuomo said.
His announcement came nearly a year after he shuttered movie theaters statewide in mid-March last year along with concert venues and nightclubs as part of efforts to limit spread of COVID-19 in crowded, indoor settings. Cuomo eased restrictions last fall to allow movie theaters to re-open at limited capacity in most counties outside of densely populated New York City.
The governor said theaters must require and enforce assigned seating, masks and social distancing. He said they also need to meet the state’s air filtration standards.
Cuomo has pushed this year to start easing COVID-19 restrictions on businesses in hopes of jumpstarting an economy hit by a drop
