NEW DELHI: Government on Sunday issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cinema halls and theatres on preventive measures to contain the spread of Covid-19. Earlier this week, Centre had allowed full occupancy in cinema halls and multiplexes starting from February 1.
In this regard, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for cinema halls and theatres to prevent the spread of the ongoing novel coronavirus.
As per the SOPs, theatres will have separated seats, staggered show timings, and bookings, mandatory social distancing, and digital payments are being encouraged. Film exhibitions will not be allowed in containment zones.
Here are the guidelines:
* Visitors will have to follow adequate physical distancing of at least 6 feet outside the auditoriums, common areas and waiting areas at all times.
* Use of face covers and face masks are mandatory at all times.
* Staggered show timings are to be followed for multiple screens to avoid crowding.
* The start, intermission and end timings of any screening should not overlap with a second screening.
* Visitors are advised to use digital no-contact transactions for purchasing tickets, food, and beverages.
* To facilitate contact tracing, contact number of all visitors will be taken at the time of booking tickets.
* The cinemas, theatres and multiplexes auditorium are to be sanitized after every screening.
* Face cover or masks are mandatory for staff members. Adequate stock of such face covers is to be made available for visitors.
* All have been advised to instal and use Aarogya Setu app.
In its last set of guidelines issued earlier this month, the government had allowed cinema halls to operate at a higher capacity. In October 2020, the Centre had allowed cinema halls to operate at 50 per cent seating capacity.
This move by the ministry of information and broadcasting should come as a relief to cinema halls that were closed for nearly seven months last year due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Even after opening they have been struggling with low audience attendance and very few new film offerings.
Stakeholders will also be happy with this decision for increased capacity, as several big-ticket films including ’83’, starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, ‘Sooryavanshi,’ starring Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and Singh, and ‘Radhe’, starring Salman Khan has been ready for months, awaiting release.
(With inputs from agencies)