California movie theaters can begin reopening Friday after coronavirus closures

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration added movie theaters to list of venues that can reopen with reduced capacity Friday, his office announced Monday.

The new guidelines say movie theaters must limit attendance to 25 percent of theater capacity or 100 attendees, whichever is lower. It’s unclear if theater owners will choose to reopen under those conditions.

Theaters join bars, gyms and a wide range of other venues that the state previously announced can begin reopening Friday in some counties.

The Newsom administration is letting local officials decide what types of businesses and venues to reopen under the state guidelines based on local conditions such as coronavirus infection rates and ability to track COVID-19 cases.

The state is not encouraging counties to reopen those businesses and is simply providing guidance for them to do so, Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Friday. Counties should expand their reopening plans only if a local health official says they can do so safely, he said.

This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 6:08 PM with the headline "California movie theaters can begin reopening Friday after coronavirus closures."