Theaters were closed in the year 2020 due to the Corona virus epidemic, since which theaters were not allowed to sit in theaters with 100% capacity. But now the Center has allowed the cinema hall to operate with 100% capacity from 1 February. In its new guideline, the government allowed the cinema hall to operate with 100% capacity. Now the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for cinema halls and theaters in this regard.
These rules will apply in theaters
Under the SOP issued by the Ministry, it will be mandatory to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet in the auditorium and common areas. It will be mandatory for people entering theaters to wear masks. The arrangement of sanitizer is mandatory for the people entering and exiting the cinema hall. Spitting in the cinema hall will be prohibited. It will be mandatory for people coming to theaters to have the Arogya Setu App in mobile. All these rules will come into effect from 1 February and will work in cinema halls with 100% capacity.
Apart from this, orders have also been given to control crowd around parking lots and cinema halls. It will be mandatory to follow social distancing even in parking. Also, more people going to the lift together will be prohibited. Crowd gathering outside the common area, lobby and washroom of the cinema hall at the interval will also be prohibited. At the interval, viewers can be asked not to leave their seats, as well as long intervals will be kept, so that according to the rules, people sitting in different seats will be able to move in the auditorium.
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It is to be known that with the onset of Corona epidemic in the country in March 2020, cinemas, theaters and multiplexes were closed. Due to this, Bollywood and TV industry got a big economic shock. The government had allowed theaters to open in the month of October under Unlock 5. After this, states like Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka started opening theaters after 50% viewership capacity. Rules such as wearing masks, social distancing and sanitization were implemented before entering theaters.