NOS Cinemas represent about 40% of the Portuguese exhibition market, according to figures from the Instituto do Cinema e Audiovisual (ICA).

"Although prevention measures are already in place to protect the protection of customers and employees, such as reducing the capacity of the rooms by 50% to a maximum of 150 people per room, holding sessions without scheduled seats and reinforcement of cleaning and sanitation, the company decided that cancellation is the appropriate measure at a time when it is critical to stay at home with Portuguese people and families ", the statement continues.

The measure goes into effect today, and "will be applied for as long as it is justified," concludes NOS Cinemas.

Exhibitor Medeia Filmes also announced the closure of Cinema Nimas, in Lisbon, from today to April 15th, and Cinema Ideal, one of the first to announce contingency plans, last week, will remain closed until April 2nd. .

Last Thursday, half of the 535 cinemas in the commercial exhibition network were in operation, with improved hygiene and distance rules between spectators, as the largest Portuguese exhibitors then revealed to Lusa. NOS Cinemas represent about 40% of the Portuguese exhibition market.

Cinema Trindade, in Porto, closed its doors last week, as did the Cineclube de Viseu, which also cancelled all sessions until the end of March, and the Porto cinemaclub, which cancelled at the time "all activities" for the House of Arts.