T’PURAM: After remaining shut for ten months, cinema theatres in the state will reopen on January 5 with 50% seating capacity. The state government has insisted on all Covid protocols to be ensured at the facilities that have to be disinfected before bringing in the public.
It has also been decided to allow festivals and cultural programmes in places of worship starting January 5. Indoor functions including cultural events can also be organized with limited attendance. The police and sectoral magistrates will have to ensure that the Covid protocols are being followed.
Sports training and swimming practices have also been allowed. Also permitted is the functioning of exhibition halls.
4,991new cases in state
On Friday, 4,991 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the state. At least 4,413 of those cases were through local transmission while the sources were unknown in 425 others.
Meanwhile, 5,111 recoveries were also confirmed on the day. The toll in the state reached 3,096 after 23 recent deaths were added to the tally. The positivity rate was 9.5%.
Ernakulam reported the highest number of cases, 602. There are 2,43,828 persons under observation in the state, including 2,31,831 at their homes or institutional quarantine centres and 11,997 in hospitals. There are 456 hotspots in the state.