NEW DELHI, Oct 6: The cinema theatres in the country outside the containment zones will be allowed to re-open after October 15 but with only 50 per cent of the capacity of the exhibiting halls and the multiplexes with staggered timings to avoid over-crowding.
The union information and broadcasting ministry on Tuesday issued guidelines for the re-opening of the cinema theatres based on the decision of the union home ministry for the resumption of the cinema halls under unlock-5 operational for the month of October. Releasing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for film exhibition, the union information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar said the guidelines had been prepared in consultation with the ministry of health & family welfare.
The highlights of the guiding principles include the general principles which have been given by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare including thermal screening of all visitors/ staffs, adequate physical distancing, use of face covers/ masks, frequent hand washing, provision of hand sanitizers etc. and respiratory etiquettes specifically with regard to the exhibition of films.
The Ministry has formulated the general SOPs taking into consideration international practices notified in the sector including physical distancing, entry and exit with designated queue markers, sanitization, safety of staff, contact minimization. The seating arrangements shall be restricted to 50 percent of the seating capacity. Multiplex show timings shall be staggered, so as to not have overlap of show timings. Temperature setting shall be in the range of 24°- 30°c.
The Guiding principle and SOP may be used by all States and other stake holders and State Governments while resuming Exhibition of Films, the minister said.
“Exhibition of Films is a major economic activity that has contributed immensely to the GDP of our country. Given the current COVID – 19 Pandemic, it is crucial that various stake holders involved in activities of Exhibition of Films take suitable measures to restrict the transmission of the pandemic, while at the same time resuming/ conduction their operations and activities,” Javadekar said.
The government has released the following link for more detailed information:
https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/SOP%20for%20exhibition%20of%20films.pdf
(Manas Dasgupta)