The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on the 27th of January, issued a fresh set of guidelines for cinema halls and swimming pools in India amid the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19.
According to the sources, the new set of guidelines have certain relaxations for the operation of cinema theatres and swimming pools.
Under the new guidelines, the Union Home Ministry allowed activities outside containment zones.
The Home Ministry has mandated States and union territories (UTs) to continue to enforce COVID-19 containment measures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on various activities and ensure COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
According to the new guidelines cinema halls could increase its sitting strength from 50 % to more.
In addition, swimming pools were also announced to be open for everybody.
The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would soon issue a revised SOP for cinema theatres and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports would release SOP for swimming pools.
There would be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods.
No separate permission/approval/e-permit would be needed for movement of people.
The issued orders of the MHA said, “States/UTs mandated to continue to enforce containment measures and SOPs on various activities and Covid appropriate behaviour.”
However, those activities which are not allowed would be subjected to the strict adherence of SOPs.
Social, religious, sports, entertainment, educational, cultural, and religious gatherings had earlier been permitted up to a maximum of 50% of the hall capacity, with a ceiling of 200 persons in closed spaces, and keeping of the size of the ground or space in view, in open spaces. Now, such gatherings will be allowed subject to the order of the state or union territory concerned.
The guidelines issued by the Home Ministry for surveillance, containment and caution for the Novel Coronavirus would be effective from the 1st of February till the 28th of February.
Stay tuned for further updates.
