Long Island Movie Theaters Preparing For Reopening This Week

LONG ISLAND, NY — Following the news that movie theaters in New York can now reopen with restrictions, several theaters on Long Island are preparing to entertain the public once again.

On Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced during a briefing that theaters across the state, excluding those in New York City, can reopen starting this Friday.

The order allows movie theaters to open at 25 percent capacity and carries with it mandatory guidelines, social distancing requirements and other precautions such as:

• Movie theaters will only be allowed to reopen if the county of locations has an average positive coronavirus testing rate of less than 2 percent in a 14-day period.
• Masks will be required at all times except when seated, eating or drinking.
• Assigned seating will be required.
• Additional staffing will be required to ensure compliance in occupancy, traffic and seating.
• Theaters will be required to meet enhanced air filtration, ventilation and purification standards

Now that theaters can reopen, two major movie theater chains will be opening their Long Island locations.

For local residents looking to return to the theater, Regal is opening its locations in Deer Park, Lynbrook and Westbury starting Friday. In addition, Showcase is opening three theaters in Holtsville, Hicksville and Farmingdale. AMC its opening its locations in Huntington, Levittown, Glen Cove, Rockville Centre, Westbury, Stony Brook and Rockville Centre.