Maharashtra allows cinema halls to reopen, indoor sports to resume
After seven months of closure due to the COVID pandemic, cinema halls, swimming pools, and yoga institutes outside containment zones will reopen to public on November 5 in Maharashtra.
After seven months of closure due to the COVID pandemic, cinema halls, swimming pools, and yoga institutes outside containment zones will reopen to public on November 5 in Maharashtra. The state government has also allowed indoor sports, such as badminton, tennis, squash, to resume with personal distancing and proper sanitisation.
Cinema halls will be allowed to run with up to 50 per cent full. As per the state government’s order, no eatables will be allowed inside the cinema halls/theatres/ multiplexes/drama theatres.
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The order further said: “The SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for the same will be issued by the Cultural Affairs Department and local authorities. The Cultural Affairs Department will take into consideration the SOP issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.”
With regard to swimming pools, yoga institutes, and indoor games, the order mentioned that the government will abide by the SOPs provided by the respective departments, such as the Public Health Department and the Sports and Youth Affairs Department.
The film industry welcomed the order on reopening cinema halls. Film exhibitor Akshay Rathi tweeted, “Finally, the moment we have waited for! Cinemas in #Maharashtra are permitted to commence operations from tomorrow with 50% occupancy & detailed SOPs will be issued soon. A step towards the resurrection of the film exhibition sector. Thank you @OfficeofUTji & @AmitV_Deshmukhji.”
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