Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, has announced a closure of all indoor entertainment, including cinemas in Wales from the end of the week. Over the past 24 hours, ministers have been working towards a support package to help effected industries as Wales struggles against COVID-19.
Wales took a different pattern to the rest of the UK with a ‘Firebreak’ two weeks shut down in early November. They’ve only been back open a few weeks and this is yet another significant blow to the cinema industry within the UK.
Prior to this, only 21 Cinemas remained open (out of 45) to begin with in the nation with many smaller venues not re-opening since the first lockdown across the whole UK began in March. Elsewhere Northern Ireland has also extended their own lockdown from their own ‘circuit breaker’ as infections continue to rise.
With many cinemas in England also closed due to ‘Tier 3’ measures, Phill Clapp of the UK Cinema Association blasted the Tier 3 measures, stating the following:
Going into Lockdown, cinemas in Tier 3 were able to operate and did so without any incident, [and] this is done entirely without any evidence of risk.
Cinemas in Wales are going to shut down in a new lockdown
Credit: Empire Cinemas
Read more: Here Are The 10 Best Movies To Watch On Disney Plus While In Quarantine
Whilst Odeon/Vue are expecting to only open a few in December, and as rumours circulate that Empire will remain closed throughout December grow… The chances of watching Wonder Woman 1984 are getting few and far between.
This past weekend saw an almost entirely shut down cinema industry, with a take of just £11,651 according to industry stat leader Comscore. The #1 film being EOne’s Two By Two Overboard with £3,422, Secret Garden following with £2,635 and 3rd place being taken by Collective Film with £1,926.
Many smaller cinemas allowed to open have been experiencing booking surges thanks to a selection of old Christmas classics being on offer to audiences. It very much seems until we receive a vaccine, this industry won’t flourish any further and remain highly troubled. The Croods 2 is due in February/March which may be a much better time for Cinemas to re-open.
What do you think of Wales shutting down Cinemas again? Is there a lack of evidence and should they remain open? Will you be going to the cinema in 2020? Let us know in the comments below.
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