The global coronavirus pandemic has hit cinemas and the film industry particularly bad, but there may be some good news as the federal government has just released guidelines that would make it easier for theater owners to determine when they can reopen.

According to Variety, the United States’ government’s “Opening Up America Again” plan has provided theater owners and film studios benchmarks with which they can determine if moviehouses can open again and new films can be released.

Before anything else, states looking to lift lockdowns have to pass gating criteria, which include a downward trajectory of COVID-like syndromic cases within a two week period, a downward trajectory of positive tests within a two-week period, and a testing program in place for healthcare workers.

Once those criteria have been passed, there are three phases that states or regions can move on to. Phase One lets them open moviehouses, restaurants, and sporting venues, but only with strict social distancing protocols in place. Once the state or region passes the gating criteria once again, they can move on to Phase Two, which now has moderate social distancing protocols in place. Finally, Phase Three only has limited physical distancing protocols in place.

While cinemas may be the first venues to be able to reopen, USA Today reports that a number of industry watchers are wary about this plan and are worried it might only bring false hopes. The paper also points pout that even if theaters do open, it does not necessarily mean that moviegoers will be tempted to leave home or film studios will release big blockbusters. Pixar, for instance, has already moved the premiere of the movie “Soul” to November.

Nevertheless, the prospect of moviehouses opening could at least give businesses a chance to recoup the $600 million deficit the North American box office incurred after the coronavirus pandemic caused cinema closures in March.

Besides, it does not look like moviehouses will be opening anytime soon as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise around the world. In the World Health Organization’s Apr. 16 situation report, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases around the globe is at 1,991,562 people. Of that number, 76,647 are new cases. There are now 130,885 people who have died because of COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, says in their Apr. 16 update that there are now 632,548 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States. The dead number at 31,071 people.