Amid the growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, AMC Theatres has announced a "social distancing" policy that will reduce U.S. theater capacities by 50 percent, according to a press release.
Beginning March 14, the company will limit ticket availability for every showtime, and no auditorium will have a capacity of more than 250 seats.
"The health and safety of our guests and theatre teams are of the utmost importance to AMC," said Adam Aron, CEO and President, AMC Theatres, in the press release. "Therefore, AMC is proactively taking action to cut in half the number of tickets that we will make available at all our U.S. theatres. With this action, we are facilitating the 'social distance' between guests who still want to see movies on a big screen."
In addition to this new policy, AMC's health and safety protocols have been enhanced to include mandatory cleaning at least once per hour of high-touch point areas (kiosks, countertops, restrooms, glass, handrails and doorknobs) as well as cleaning auditoriums between showtimes.
"These are uncharted times in the United States. We are very closely monitoring the guidance of the CDC," Aron said. "We are complying with all directives from federal, state and local health and government authorities ... "
Theater staff that feel ill are excused from work and unwell AMC patrons are encouraged to stay home and seek medical assistance, according to the release.
"Founded in 1920, AMC Theatres has a proud history that spans 100 years," Aron said. "As we enter our second century, AMC remains firmly committed to offering a clean, healthy, entertaining environment every time our guests come to movies at our theatres."
