Cinema halls and theatres had been permitted final year to operate with 50% occupancy (File)
New Delhi:
Cinema halls and theatres will be permitted to operate with greater occupancy, the centre has announced in its revised coronavirus recommendations. The updated regular operating procedures (SOPs) that have been issued amid a steady decline in every day Covid numbers across the nation, also let the reopening of swimming pools for all.
“Cinema halls and theatres have already been permitted upto 50% of seating capacity. Now they will be permitted to operate at higher seating capacity, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in consultation with MHA (the Ministry of Home Affairs),” it mentioned in a release.
Swimming pools had reopened for sportspersons final year. The centre has now permitted every person to use them.
“Now swimming pools will be permitted for use of all, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYA&S) in consultation with MHA.”
The centre in its recommendations also indicated that it could enhance the permitted strength for gatherings.
“Social/ religious/ sports/ entertainment/ educational/ cultural/ religious gatherings have already been permitted upto 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/ space in view, in open spaces. Now such gatherings will be allowed subject to SOP of the State/ UT concerned,” it mentioned.
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All forms of exhibition halls will be permitted, the centre mentioned, adding there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement.
The recommendations will come into impact from February 1.
India, which had reported close to one lakh instances for some days final year, logged just 12,689 coronavirus instances and 137 fatalities today.
The nation is operating the world’s biggest anti-coronavirus vaccination drive which is anticipated to bring down the caseload additional.