To wear a mask or to not wear a mask? That appears to be a hot button topic of discussion in the US and around the world. Though the science has definitively proven that wearing a mask helps mitigate the spread of COVID-19 amongst the population, the issue has become politicized (not least of which by the current President of the United States), leading to some places (you know where) deciding that not wearing a mask is an act of freedom from some sort of governmental oppression (it’s just so damn ludicrous and silly).
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But for our purposes at The Playlist, we’re going to limit this discussion to the use of face masks in cinemas, which itself has become a headline-grabbing spectacle, with cinema chains in the US finding out that not requiring a mask is a pretty unpopular opinion. So, that leads back to the original question about whether or not people should wear PPE while enjoying films on the big screen? According to a new Vulture interview with Dr. Robert Lahita, chairman of medicine at St. Joseph’s Health in New Jersey, the answer is a no-brainer.
“You’d have to be nuts [not to wear a mask],” he said. “You’re with a group of strangers. Unless you’re sitting 20 or 30 feet from the other person, you run the risk of being infected. There’s no question about it. You know how the air is in a theater: It’s not circulated very well. If you don’t wear a mask, you take your chances.”
He added that he believes it’s “95% safe” to attend a screening at a movie theater, as long as all the stated regulations released by the cinema chains, including wearing a mask, are followed.
Thankfully, it appears that most US theaters are going to be doing just that. However, that’s not the case all over the world. UK Cinema Association (UKCA) has recently released its guidelines for what the group believes will be followed by cinema chains. And surprisingly, one of the major issues discussed in the document (via Deadline) is the fact that face masks and PPE will not be required in cinemas, either by employees working there or by customers.
“It is important to know that the evidence of the benefit of using a face covering to protect others is weak and the effect is likely to be small, therefore face coverings are not a replacement for the other ways of managing risk, including minimizing time spent in contact, using fixed teams and partnering for close-up work, and increasing hand and surface washing,” said the UKCA.
READ MORE: AMC “Reverses Course” & Will Now Require Everyone To Wear Masks When Cinemas Reopen
The document added, “These other measures remain the best ways of managing risk in the workplace and government would therefore not expect to see employers relying on face coverings as risk management for the purpose of their health and safety assessments.”
Though the use of a facemask is not required by law, the document does suggest that if people choose to wear them at their place of work, employers should support them. So, at least there’s that.
As mentioned, the US cinema chains have changed their verdict regarding the mask requirement, especially given that there have been spikes in COVID-19 cases. However, as with everything that has happened in response to the pandemic, every country is going to have its own rules.
Enjoy the return to cinemas at your own risk!