Many people might think that the potential (permanent) closure of Cineworld was foreshadowed before the pandemic with many online streaming services offering compelling products at fractions of the cost. They are wrong.
Below, you'll find an article which details the cinema attendance in 2018 and finds that it was the highest since 1970. So much for doubts over the viability of cinema as a business before COVID.
https://variety.com/2019/film/news/u-k-cinema-attendance-in-2018-was-highest-since-1970-1203114067
On the other hand, the news reports being pushed out everywhere about the "closure" of Cineworld are certainly very serious but also click baity.
They might close until next year, not permanently as the headline suggests.
It makes sense if major films are delaying release until 2021.
Even if people are willing to go to the cinema and the cinema can provide the experience safely it doesn't matter if they have no compelling film offering.
If no one goes and the furlough scheme is wound down it would be suicide for the chain to keep its full staff on for 6 months (or more) with no revenue. That would likely lead to permanent closure.
I am not happy with it but I understand it. We will see more businesses mothballing until this is over. The redundancies are a position forced by the government withdrawing support.