By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE closure of cinemas in Trinidad and Tobago is doing more harm than good especially to the psyche of the population.
MovieTowne owner Derek Chin again expressed his disappointment that cinemas are not yet allowed to light up their screens.
He told AZPNews.com on Monday that over 3,500 persons were negatively affected by the prolonged closure of the entertainment industry.
He said, “We have been closed for a significantly long time, 112 days in 2021 and 194 days in 2020. No scientific data nor any incidence of Covid cases emanating from a cinema visit to watch a movie since the pandemic started. Unfounded closures because of an ill conceived notion that cinemas are causes of Covid spread. That has not been the case.
“There is need for the population to exhale and start to live life again. There is too much negativity and loss of hope. This lack of recreation and relaxation has a negative psyche on people and make them more susceptible to a lower resistance factor. Our staff are almost 100% fully vaccinated and the auditoriums very safe given our continued strict protocols.”
During the Ministry of Health’s virtual media conference on Monday, Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram said he could not say when gyms, cinemas and beaches will be re-opened.
He added that places where persons can have their mask on at all times were given preference as various sectors were beginning to re-open.
