California to let theater to reopen in most counties – Los Angeles Times

California counties that have actually been allowed to accelerate their reopening of their economy, consisting of Los Angeles County, might decide to reopen theater as early as Friday, according to new state guidelines released Monday.

Each regional health officer has the authority to decide whether to progress with unwinding constraints on reopening theaters. While the state supplies guidance on how services can reopen, counties choose when they occur.

The new guidelines would restrict the variety of guests in a movie theater to 25 % of theater capacity or a maximum of 100 guests, whichever is lower. Also, theaters would need to implement an appointment system to restrict the number of attendees entering the theater at a time when possible. “Designate arrival times as part of bookings, if possible so that customers come to and go into the theater in staggered groups,” the state's guidelines say.

To keep visitors six feet far from others, theaters are to close or otherwise remove seats from use, which may require seating every other row or obstructing off seats in a checkerboard style, in which nobody is sitting directly behind other clients.

The guidelines would ask patrons to wear face coverings when not eating or drinking. Staff would need to be offered to help usher people before the program begins and at its conclusion to lower crowding when entering or exiting.

The standards also suggest using non reusable or washable seat covers in theaters, “especially on permeable surfaces that are hard to appropriately clean. Discard and replace seat covers between each usage,” the standards say.

Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura are amongst 51 California counties that will be offered the option by the state to allow theater to reopen.

All but 7 of California's 58 counties have submitted attestation documents to resume their economies at a sped up rate. 6 of the counties that have not done so remain in the San Francisco Bay Area– Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara– and the seventh is Imperial County east of San Diego, which is facing a bad outbreak.

The rules would likewise allow other household entertainment center operators, such as bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages and arcades to resume.

Recently, state officials released suggested industry guidance for physical fitness centers that might allow fitness centers to open in much of California as early as this Friday.

Recommended guidelines include spacing devices at least six feet apart, with higher range for treadmills and other high-exertion aerobic fitness equipment, thinking about suspending child care service and food service, and restricting capability by enacting an appointment system.

Under the guidelines, individual trainers must use face coverings and prevent close contact, and customers are strongly encouraged to use a face covering too. Group exercise classes would require to be restricted to keep six feet of range between individuals, and the standards recommend moving the classes outdoors or bigger spaces such as a full-sized basketball court.

Saunas, steam rooms and jacuzzis should remain closed, the guidance says.

Lin reported from San Francisco, Willon from Sacramento.