Unlock 5.0: Cinemas May Open

The fourth phase of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions would end on Wednesday (September 30) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is likely to announce the guidelines for Unlock 5.0, supposed to begin from 1 October.

As the festive season is round the corner, Unlock 5.0 may include more relaxations to promote more economic activity.

During the Unlock 4.0 that began on September 1, the Centre announced significant relaxations, including resumption of Metro services for the first time since late March and partial reopening of schools for Classes IX to XII.

Restaurants, malls, salons and gyms were also allowed to resume services.

In Unlock 5.0, the central government is expected to give permission for resuming many more activities in areas outside the containment zones from October 1, like opening of cinema halls. During Unlock 4, the MHA did not allow resumption of cinema halls, barring only open air theatres to resume operations from September 21.

I&B ministry secretary Amit Khare had given the home ministry a seating arrangement formula to be followed in movie theatres and according to that, alternate seats in the first row and the next were to be kept vacant to maintain physical distancing.

Meanwhile, West Bengal became the first state to announce resumption of cinema halls, musical, dance, recital and magic shows from October 1, with a minimum of 50 participants or even less than the number.

For students of 9th and 10th classes, schools have already started on a voluntary basis while primary classes are likely to remain shut. Universities and colleges have started taking admission tests and the new academic year may begin through online classes.

During Unlock 4.0, a few states permitted schools to reopen and the decisions may be reviewed.

The tourism sector, which is struggling to revive itself from the losses faced in the last six months of lockdown, may finally open their doors to travelers. The loss to the entire value chain linked to the sector was estimated to be around Rs 5 trillion, according to a study by the CII and hospitality consulting firm Hotelivate.

During Unlock 4.0, a few tourist destinations like Agra’s Taj Mahal were opened. A few days back, the Uttarakhand government also allowed tourists into the state without insisting on Coronavirus negative report or institutional quarantine rules.