Unlock 5.0: Cinemas Open With 50% Seating, States Decide On Schools Reopen

With the Government of India shutting down the whole of the country in the first phase and later starting to open gradually after Covid-19 pandemic hit the whole world hard, the cry for re-opening of theatres has grown loud. And finally, there is a sigh of relief for all parties concerned with the movie exhibition.

Finally, the Govt of India issued new guidelines for ‘Re-opening’ of cinema halls, both single screens and multiplexes, from October 15th. But the condition is that every theatre will be allowed to function only 50% to their seating capacity and strict guidelines regarding maintaining the gap between each seat and other guidelines should be followed. Along with movie theatres, swimming pools used for training of sportspersons and other entertainment parks are also allowed to re-open from October 15

Definitely this is a happy move for multiplex owners who are waiting with baited breathe for Govt’s order to re-open theatres. Though collections of films will be down by 50%, this is a better option than keeping the theatres shut.

Now we have to see how many films will rush to theatres for a release as many movies are not opting for OTT release these days with a hope to make big at the Box Office. So Tollywood, movies are back!

States To Decide On Schools

Unlock 5.0 is here with a major update on the reopening of movie theaters and educational institutions. While the theaters are allowed to reopen with 50 percent of occupancy, the decision on schools is left for states and Union territories to decide.

The government asked the states to decide about the reopening of schools based on the assessment of the situation and only after consulting the respective school and institution management about the reopening after October 15.

While suggesting the online and remote learning be the preferred mode of teaching, the government asks the schools to get ‘written consent’ from parents if they want students to physically attend the school. Attendance must not be enforced and it should entirely depend on parental consent. The government also asked the institutions to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Education Department of State.

Educational institutions for research scholars and Postgraduate students in Science and technology stream requiring laboratory and experimental works will be allowed to open after October 15.