The British cinema chain Odeon has closed its cinemas until further notice. Not a huge surprise, a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned people to avoid crowded environments and theater-like gatherings in a live speech, and this follows AMC, Odeon's parent company, shutting down its own theaters in the United States for 6-12 weeks. If you have already reserved tickets, you can expect an automatic refund. "As per government directives, Odeon cinemas are closed until further notice," the cinema chain said in a statement. "If you pre-booked tickets online, you will be automatically refunded. For any specific questions, please contact our customer service. We look forward to welcoming you soon." Rival chain Cineworld has yet to announce similar measures, but its boutique movie channel Picturehouse has announced closures. In fact, there are plans today to show the Star Wars show The Mandalorian on the big screen before the new streaming service Disney Plus launches in the UK. He answered customer questions about the coronavirus on Twitter:
Hi Stu, We are continuing to operate as usual until otherwise directed by the government. The safety and well-being of our customers is our top priority and we encourage customers to follow government advice regarding the coronavirusMarch 16, 2020 Yesterday, released a list of precautions to protect customers.