NYC Mayor Orders Closure of Movie Theaters & CDC Recommends Cancelling Events With Crowds Larger Than 50 People For The Next 8 Weeks – Theaters Nationwide Could Close Soon

It looks like American cities are making big choices in the next couple of days concerning the public’s option for large crowds and taking new recommendations from the CDC seriously concerning the spread of COVID-19. 

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday on Twitter that the city will be ordering the closures of bars, restaurants, nightclubs, concert venues, and movie theaters. 

This will take effect Tuesday morning. 

DE BLASIO: “The virus can spread rapidly through the close interactions New Yorkers have in restaurants, bars and places where we sit close together. We have to break that cycle. Tomorrow, I will sign an Executive Order limiting restaurants, bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery.”

“Nightclubs, movie theaters, small theater houses, and concert venues must all close. The order will go into effect Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00 AM.”

Nightclubs, movie theaters, small theater houses, and concert venues must all close. The order will go into effect Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00 AM.

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 16, 2020

This comes after the CDC recommended crowds not be larger than 50 people nationwide for 8 weeks, which will likely mean that movie theatre chains will likely have to temporarily close their doors to the public or drastically re-think screening sizes. 

BREAKING: The Centers for Disease Control recommended that Americans cancel or postpone gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks.

It's the most aggressive federal guidance issued yet in response to the coronavirus outbreak https://t.co/JWrEOWLadW

— POLITICO (@politico) March 16, 2020

Theaters had already adopted a 50% reduction but that seemingly won’t be enough.

This will basically extend film and television productions expected to pause for “two weeks”, potentially extending those “pauses” by two months. 

I think we can start to forget about Marvel’s Black Widow coming out as previously planned on May 1st and just assume we won’t be getting winter/spring feature film releases anytime soon. 

Widow is one of the last big spring releases that hasn’t made an announcement about moving to a later date, but with this new CDC recommendation it’s only a matter of time now.

A nationwide closure will certainly have larger consequences to the film industry and the exhibitors along with the American economy, hopefully, it’s only temporary. 

However, you can understand the thinking from a health and safety perspective.

SOURCE: CITY OF NEW YORK & CDC