MAHARASHTRA: After reopening the schools and colleges, the Uddhav Thackeray led state government is all set to allow the cinema halls and amusement parks to reopen from today.
In this regard, Chief Minister Uddhav had last month issued a fresh set of guidelines. He had said that the establishments will open on the condition that they follow all the protocols required to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Amusement parks will reopen from today but the water rides in amusement parks have still not been permitted to open. As per the new SOPs visitors will be allowed rides (except for water rides) in the open space in amusement parks.
COVID-19 guidelines for cinema halls, theatres and auditoriums:
-Only 50% of the seating capacity of people will be allowed to enter the cinema halls, auditoriums and drama theaters.
-Show times of cinema halls will have to be “staggered”, and the sale of only packaged food and beverages will be allowed. Food and beverages can not be taken inside the screening auditorium.
-Cinema-goers will be required to wear masks. Sanitizers should be available inside the halls, toilets and in other places. Spitting should not be allowed anywhere on the premises.
-Thermal check-up will be mandatory at the entry. “Spectators must have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or their health status on the Aarogya Setu app must show as safe,” according to the SOP.
-Air conditioning in cinema halls should be set at temperatures between 24 to 30 degrees Celsius and humidity levels between 40 to 70 per cent.
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The Maharashtra government’s decision on Monday came after the state reported 1,736 new cases of Covid-19, the lowest daily count in nearly 17 months, and 36 fresh fatalities, which took the infection tally to 65,79,608 and the toll to 1,39,578, according to state health department’s bulletin.
Cinema halls and theatres, shut since March 2020, were reopened in November last year. However, they were closed again in April 2021 after the second coronavirus wave hit Maharashtra.
The government has also allowed schools to reopen for classes from first to the fifth standard from October 25. Schools, however, will have to get consent from parents for running in-person classes. Moreover, only half of the class strength will be allowed to physically attend the
school.
It has also allowed swimming polls to operate with half the capacity in each batch. Only those who have taken two doses of the vaccine and are asymptomatic can use the pool.
(With inputs from ANI)
