Cinema halls to open from October 15 at half capacity in Delhi

DELHI: The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Wednesday allowed cinemas, multiplexes and theatres to open with up to 50% of their capacity from October 15. This will be subject to compliance with standard operating procedure for exhibition of films stipulated by the ministry of information and broadcasting to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The DDMA has also allowed all weekly markets in the city to function, with immediate effect, in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines.
All weekly markets to open, no economic activity in sealed zones
With these decisions, almost all economic activities have been allowed in the capital although schools will remain closed until the government is assured about safety of students. This makes Delhi one of the most open cities in the country with the government pushing for revival of the economy.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had proposed opening of cinema halls and all weekly markets at Tuesday’s DDMA meeting. “Now all the weekly markets of Delhi can function. Only two markets per day per zone were allowed to function till now. It will bring major relief to the poor. The cinema halls will also open from October 15. They will be required to follow the central government-issued guidelines,” Kejriwal tweeted.
Cinema halls have remained closed since the beginning of the lockdown in March causing huge financial distress to owners. Their reopening will also revive many jobs in a big way.
No economic activity will, however, be allowed within the city’s Covid-19 containment zones, currently 2,702.
“The situation of Covid-19 in Delhi has been reviewed and it has been decided that cinemas/theatres/multiplexes may be permitted to open as prescribed in the ministry of home affairs September 30 order, and all weekly markets may be permitted to function in Delhi except in containment zones,” said a DDMA order signed by chief secretary Vijay Dev.
Kejriwal has said that Delhi is past the peak of the second Covid-19 wave that hit the city towards the beginning of last month. It reached its peak by the middle of last month and authorities believe it has been tamed with aggressive testing and treatment. Delhi conducted more than 60,000 tests daily for days. On Wednesday, 51,505 tests were conducted and 2,871 people found infected with the positivity rate being 5.57. The positivity rate has been continuously falling since mid-September.
The cinema halls must follow the six-feet distancing norm outside the auditoriums and in common areas and waiting areas at all times, ensure mandatory use of face covers, make hand sanitisers available in touch-free mode at all entry and exit points, facilitate thermal screening of visitors, make seating arrangements in compliance with social distancing rules by properly marking the not-to-be-occupied seats, stagger show timings, sanitise the premises and ensure health management of employees.
The DDMA order stated that the location of the weekly markets would be determined by the district administration and local authorities in consultation with RWAs. If it was observed that any weekly market was unable to function at its regular place due to some reasons, like obstruction of traffic, then it would be allowed to function at some other nearby place, on a temporary basis, where the guidelines can be strictly implemented. Strict action will be taken if the markets were found to be violating the guidelines.