Maharashtra Government allows reopening of cinema halls with 50% capacity, swimming pools, and yoga centres from November 5

• The cinema halls are allowed to open outside containment zones, with 50% of their seating capacity.
• The government said, “the Cultural Affairs Department will take into consideration the SOP issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. ‘
• The government has also allowed Cinema halls, drama theatres, swimming pools and yoga institutes in the state to reopen outside containment zones.

Nearly 3 weeks after the central government decision, Maharashtra Government has now allowed cinema halls to open in areas outside containment zones with 50% of their seating capacity from November 5.

Here’s what the order from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Government said:

• Cinema halls/theatres/multiplexes/drama theatres will be allowed to open with 50% of their seating capacity in areas outside the Containment Zones only with effect from November 5, 2020
• No eatables will be allowed inside the Cinema halls/theatres/multiplexes/drama theatres.
• The SOP 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.
• Further, all norms of social distancing and precaution to prevent COVID -19 shall be followed.

This decision came weeks after Thackeray held a virtual meeting with some of the prominent multiplex and cinema owners in the state. Thackeray had informed the cinema owners that the state cultural department is working on a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the functioning of theatre.

The government has also allowed cinema halls, drama theatres, swimming pools and yoga institutes in the state to reopen outside containment zones from November 5. All these establishments were closed since lockdown was imposed to contain coronavirus in March.

Last month, the state had allowed hotels and bars to reopen. Other than that, the government said, the remaining lockdown restrictions have already been extended till November 30.
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