Petition · past parliament

Replace social distancing with temperature screening in cinemas and theatres.

Rejected 20 signatures

What the petition asks

This would make it economic for more venues to open which will benefit the economy.
If social distancing rules are not relaxed soon, the damage to the economy will shorten far more lives than the Covid-19 virus itself.

Why it was rejected

It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.

The current guidance for keeping workers and customers safe during Covid-19, including through social distancing has been published by the UK Cinema Association, not the Government or House of Commons: https://www.cinemauk.org.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/guidance-for-cinemas/

We also couldn't publish a petition which appeared to imply that temperature checks made social distancing unnecessary. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has published advice warning that temperature screening products are not a reliable way to detect if people have the virus.

Timeline

8 Oct 2020 Petition opened for signatures
19 Oct 2020 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 20
Status Rejected
Rejected 19 Oct 2020

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.