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MOC announces guidelines for cultural and art sectors in response to the eased restrictions

  • Date:2021-07-08
MOC announces guidelines for cultural and art sectors in response to the eased restrictions

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on July 8 announced plans to partially ease the COVID-19 restrictions for various industries, including performance halls, exhibition venues, theaters, film and television shows production. In response to the announcement, Ministry of Culture (MOC) urged all cultural and art venues as well as film crews to comply with the preventive measures, form a response team, as well as set up preventive management guidelines for each venue and film crew.

Under Level 3 alert restrictions, MOC's affiliated performance venues can open up designated working spaces such as performance halls, rehearsal room, dressing room and storage room. MOC also encourages performing troupes who have signed a performance contract to conduct closed-door rehearsals; film live shows or performances without audiences. Exhibition venues and theatres will gradually reopen while maintaining preventive measures, and film crews are required to adhere to the preventive measures in order to ease public doubts about the safety of filming work.

In addition, the following measures apply to all performers and workers during a closed-door rehearsal or live show filming : Maintain social distancing of 1.5 meters, performers who have done a rapid test or PCR test can take off their masks temporarily during the actual performance, arrange for a PCR test every 7 days, and those who are not involved in the performance are required to wear a surgical mask at all times.

The exhibition venues include museums, art galleries and others, are required to abide by the restrictions, which include wearing a surgical mask at all times, temperature screening, constant disinfection, implement real-name registration and appointment-based visits, practice social distancing and the maximum number of visitors should not exceed 100.

For theatres, the protocols include wearing a surgical mask at all times, temperature screening, constant disinfection, implement real-name registration and encourage viewers to prepurchase tickets to limit capacity, seating gaps between parties and prohibit consumption of food and beverages.

As for film crew, it is recommended that the crew should form an independent pandemic response team to deal with the relevant issues; permission should be obtained from the actors if there are scenes that involve physical contact; actors who have done a rapid test or PCR test can take off their masks temporarily during the filming and arrange for a PCR test every 7 days; those who are not involved in the performance are required to wear a surgical mask at all times.

MOC emphasized that the prevention and control of COVID-19 requires the joint effort of everyone, so that the performers and staffs of the cultural and arts sector can gradually resume their daily routines. MOC pointed out that the preventive measures apply to all venues, film crew and the public, and everyone should adhere to the measures.