Cinema reopened after the outbreak

After being shuttered for nearly six months, China's cinemas - which have the most screens in the world - will steadily reopen in the low-risk areas under COVID-19 prevention protocols from July 20, said China Film Administration, the country's top sector regulator.

As of Sunday, China's pre-sale box office at 391 cinemas in 83 cities has surpassed one million yuan ($142,900) on the first day of reopening, according to Maoyan, an online platform that provides film and TV data and compiles rankings.

All tickets – which are sold in alternative seats - should be reserved online with providing the buyers' identities. Besides, viewers are required to wear masks during the entire screening.

Also, at every screening – with the film's length no longer than two hours – the theater is required to sell no more than 30 percent of all seats. Cinemas will not sell snacks or drinks.

Every pair or group of audience - who come together to watch a film - are required to sit at least 1 meter away from other viewers, said the guideline.

Why it matters: China's box office earned $9.2 billion last year, making it the world's second-largest film market behind the US, but the industry has suffered huge losses this year due to both domestic and Hollywood new releases being either postponed or canceled.