Cinemas in Beijing were ordered Thursday to limit seating capacity to 50 percent during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.
The decision adds to local industry worries that recent flareups of COVID-19 cases could dampen earnings during what is usually the biggest period for China’s box office by far.
Sources at two exhibition chains with locations in Beijing told The Hollywood Reporter that they were notified of the requirement on Thursday.
The limits will apply from Feb. 11-17, the seven public holidays of Spring Festival. Beijing’s Film Bureau hasn’t made an official announcement about the caps, but the news was carried by several media outlets based in the Chinese capital.
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