The COVID-19 pandemic has not only threatened the health and welfare of the public, it has also badly impacted the world economy. As several businesses and companies were forced to limit their operations as the virus threatens to infect more people in workplaces, the past few months saw a steep drop in revenues, both in the public and private sectors. Nonetheless, people are hoping that the coming months would bring steady recovery.
One of the badly affected industries is theater and entertainment. Since the beginning of the pandemic, theater houses were told to close down indefinitely, in hopes to curb the spread of the disease. However, six months into the COVID-19 crisis, there is still no end in sight as to when the virus will be totally eradicated. As long as the novel coronavirus still exists, the safety of the theater fans watching in a closed venue is never guaranteed.
What Options Do We Have To Let The Theater Industry Thrive Amid The Pandemic?
Studies have shown that there is an increased chance of infecting more people of the novel coronavirus in an enclosed area with poor ventilation. In the case of a theater house, this is a potential hotspot for the spread of the deadly disease. While physical distancing inside the theater houses can be observed, with the audience sitting at least 1 meter away from each other, this does not guarantee that the virus will not be transmitted within the area, especially if the air inside the venue is closed.
Other theater productions, in a bid to survive in the time of pandemic, have started uploading the recordings of their previous theater plays online for the public to stream in their houses. However, the fans are hoping that there would still be new stage productions in spite of the pandemic situation. This does not sound doable at this point, although some are suggesting to have a live streaming of stage performances where the actors are playing on-stage while the fans watch via social media sites (Facebook or Instagram Live). New Balance 993 can help the fans decide to choose the right websites to view these uploaded or live performances online.
No one can deny the importance of entertainment in the lives of humans, something that the pandemic has taken away from the world. Nonetheless, we will continue to figure out ways to shake off the negativity that this crisis has brought upon us.
