Cinema halls reopen with 50 percent capacity in Maharashtra

As a part of Unlock phase 5, Cinema halls, drama theatres, multiplexes, swimming pools and yoga institutes resumed services from November 5 in Maharashtra.

Following the guidelines released by Union Home Ministry, Uddhav Thackeray led Maharashtra government allowed these multiplexes to operate with 50 per cent seating capacity.

In its SOP, the state government said that these multiplexes will only be allowed to operate in the non-containment zones while lockdown guidelines will strictly be observed in containment zones.

Cheif Secretary Sanjay Kumar issued an order under Mission Begin Again campaign which aims to bring normalcy back in the otherwise covid-hit state. The guidelines added that no eatables will be allowed inside the multiplex.

“All indoor sports like badminton, tennis, squash, indoor shooting ranges will be allowed with physical distancing and sanitation measures with effect from November 5,” the order further stated.

All the leisure services including cinema halls suspended their services in March following the covid-19 pandemic induced lockdown.

Meanwhile, in the news related to covid-19, the state has shown substantial progress over the past couple of weeks.

the state’s Covid-19 deaths remained above the 100-mark, but infections dropped and the recovery rate improved, with a whopping 7.38 lakh freed from home quarantine.

The state witnessed 120 deaths on Tuesday, against 104 fatalities reported on Monday, taking the state’s death toll to 44,248.

In October, the state government allowed resumption of the Mumbai Metro in a graded manner, It also allowed gymnasiums and fitness centres to reopen from Dussehra.