The Anchorage Century 16 and XD theater in Midtown will reopen Friday, joining a growing list of movie theaters that recently reopened under looser pandemic restrictions within the municipality.
Three Regal movie theaters in Anchorage — at the Dimond Center, at the Regal Totem in East Anchorage and at Tikahtnu Commons — are now also open to the public, according to the Regal website.
Cinemark Holdings said the Century 16 theater is implementing enhanced safety measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many theaters to close over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.
At Century 16, employees must wear face masks, and so must guests except while eating or drinking. Employees will have their health reviewed before each shift, Cinemark Holdings' statement said. Each auditorium will be cleaned between shows using EPA-approved disinfectants and pressurized sprayers.
Other measures will include staggered showtimes and spacing between seats to promote social distancing, the statement said. Air circulation will be improved to take advantage of outside air, and all public and high-touch spaces will be sanitized every 30 minutes, Cinemark said.
Regal has outlined similar safety measures — including employee health screenings, mask requirements, increased fresh air intake and spacing between groups — in place at its reopened theaters.
Elsewhere in Anchorage, the single-screen theater at the Bear Tooth Theatrepub remains closed, an employee said.
Theaters were among the establishments that had to stay closed under temporary Anchorage pandemic restrictions that expired Aug. 30. Under current city guidelines, theaters and other indoor entertainment venues may operate at 50% of building occupancy.
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