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NILES — The precautionary measures handed down by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday, in response to the COVID-19 threat, have seen communities getting more and more quiet. The closures announced followed those of K-12 schools, and included closing bars, casinos, and limited restaurants to carry out and delivery orders.

The closures included another beloved respite from reality as theaters were swept into the mandate.

Before Monday’s mandated closure, Niles’ Wonderland Cinema had announced on Thursday, March 12, that it was taking voluntary measures to limit the spread of the virus.

“We had already limited the number of people in the building, and we had limited people in the theater, so I kind of thought that’s how it was going to be until it passed,” said Wonderland Cinema owner Carol Moore. “I was kind of surprised that they decided to completely shut everything down. That was a surprise.”

The owners had hoped to stay open to give members of the community the short escape that movies can provide.

While the cinema has weathered closures in the past due to flooding and repairs, Moore said this is different.

“We have no idea for how long,” she said of the closures. “Hollywood has pulled its pictures because they don’t know either. The country’s kind of in a standstill.”

Wonderland’s Facebook page currently bears friendly reminders on precautionary measures everyone can take to “flatten the curve” on spreading the virus.

“We just have to take every day and see what happens,” Moore said. “Hopefully, we can curb the spread of this.”