An infectious disease expert warns of the dangers of opening cinemas in the midst of an ongoing pandemic.
Dr. Rontgene Solante explained that ventilation can increase the risk, especially when viewers eat and talk in an enclosed area.
“Nakikipag-usap ka. Kumakain ka. Sumisigaw ka ka kapag maganda ang palabas — that alone are modes of expelling out the droplets and aerosolization. Tapos we don’t know the ventilation. ‘Yun ang mga risk na nakikita ko ikaw pag andun ka ng one and a half hour, two hours,” Solante said in an interview with Teleradyo.
On Friday, the country’s pandemic task force announced that cinemas and other recreational venues such as arcades and amusement parks would be allowed to open in public communities where the Metro Manila epicenter virus is under control.
The pandemic task force in March moved the opening of cinemas in Metro Manila — where there are many malls and other entertainment hubs — to formulate local government rules here, amid some mayors’ doubts about the opening of cinemas.
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Reopening cinemas amid pandemic ‘high risk’ – expert
But for Solante, it is not yet certain whether the rules will work, particularly if those who enter will need to wear face masks and face shields.
“Mayroon bang nagmo-monitor? I don’t know. Madilim. I don’t know how the compliance of the monitoring [will be] sa loob ng sinehan,” he said.
The expert said that the opening of arcades can be considered a “moderate risk” because people have more control over access to it.
“‘Di ba ‘pag nag-gaming ka, sumisigaw ka rin ‘no. E hindi naman pwede na ‘di ka sumisigaw doon. So nandoon na rin ‘yung risk of aerosolization and airborne, even if you wear a face mask,” said Solante.
He said museums are low risk especially since very few people want to go there during the pandemic, while theme parks are between low to moderate because most of them are outside.