Cinema chain Vue is reportedly targeting a mid-July reopening for its movie theatres, while its listed peer Cineworld (CINE) has said a reopening of its cinemas by the end of June could be realistic.

In Taiwan where Vue has already reopened cinemas, filmgoers’ temperatures are checked on arrival. Other solutions are likely to involve staggered screening times to limit the number of people through foyers and requiring customers to buy tickets online prior to arrival.

In order to remain in line with social distancing requirements sites are likely to have to operate significantly below full capacity – which will negatively impact profitability.

However, securing some revenue would provide the likes of Cineworld and upmarket chain Everyman (EMAN:AIM) with something of a lifeline, with the damage wrought by the lockdown reflected in share price falls of 59% and 44% respectively since the end of February.

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