Cinema chain takes action

Ireland’s largest cinema chain has announced its implementation of a number of pro-active measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Omniplex Cinemas, which owns Mahon Point Omniplex, made the announcement after a thorough risk assessment and analysis of the global cinema market was carried out.

The measures will include the 'social distancing' of patrons through in-cinema seat separation, meaning every second seat in an auditorium will be empty in a checkerboard pattern.

Other measures will include self-scanning of tickets, increased cleaning regimes and hand sanitising stations in every cinema foyer.

Mark Anderson, Director of Omniplex Cinemas, said: “In-cinema seat separation will give one metre of separation between each guest, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for social distancing. By reducing our capacity by 50 per cent we hope to give cinemagoers peace of mind when attending the movies.”