SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Movie theaters in Illinois have outlined a proposal to safely reopen the industry more quickly than outlined by the governor’s plan.
The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) of Illinois said their plan would provide relief to an industry that creates thousands of jobs for teenagers and has helped revitalize towns across Illinois.
Under the governor’s plan, movie theaters cannot reopen until Phase 4, meaning the earliest that could happen in some regions is June 26. The governor’s plan also sets a strict limit of 50 people per auditorium.
The alternative plan proposed by NATO of Illinois would allow theaters to safely reopen sooner with new safety and sanitization procedures.
It calls for limiting auditorium attendance to 50 percent of their seat capacity, the same standard the governor has outlined for restaurants and bars.