Portugal: cinemas and performance halls start to reopen

Nearly two and a half months after their closure due to a pandemic, cinemas, theaters and performance halls begin to reopen from Monday June 1 in Portugal as part of the continued deconfinement.

The sports halls can also resume their activity, with new health rules, and teleworking ceases to be compulsory. Shopping centers will also be able to reopen with the exception of those in the Lisbon region, which in recent days has seen a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases more significant than in the rest of the country.

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A more progressive deconfinement in Lisbon

" The development of the situation in the Lisbon region is clearly different from the rest of the country, " said Prime Minister Antonio Costa, adding that the decision to reopen the shopping centers there would be " reconsidered " on Thursday.

Of the 297 new Covid-19 cases identified in 24 hours, 268 were in the Lisbon region, according to the latest assessment published Sunday by the Directorate General of Health, which reports a cumulative number of 1,410 deaths and 32,500 reported cases.

In Lisbon, the Ideal cinema is preparing to open in the heart of the old city. " I hope there will be few people, because this is all very new! “, Confided to AFP the producer and distributor Pedro Borges, which operates the oldest cinema in Lisbon. " I am aware that the spectators' return will be slow ".

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Other cinemas preferred to wait, such as the network of the NOS group, which manages more than 200 cinemas in Portugal and considers that it needs more time to put in place the necessary measures " to accommodate spectators in complete safety ", explained one AFP spokesperson.

In Lisbon, the arenas of Campo Pequeno are also preparing to host their first show. This room, with a capacity of more than 9,000 seats, will only welcome some 2,000 spectators, all of whom will have to wear a mask.