Theatres Reopen: Follow These Rules

The government of India has issued the unlock five guidelines on Tuesday. The Information and Broadcasting(I&B) ministry have released a set of protocols on reopening cinema halls or multiplexes from October 15 2020.

Following the six months of lockdown, theatres to open and operate with proper physical distancing in 50% seating capacity.

Moreover, cinema halls or multiplexes should provide proper sanitizers and handwashing facilities in common areas. It is mandatory to use the Arogya Sethu app, along with thermal screening, and the people are not allowed without a mask.

The contact number will be taken from the visitor to trace health conditions in later visiting. Delivering food inside the halls is strictly prohibited, except packed food and beverages to be allowed to buy at the food courts with proper distance.

Apart from these usual physical distancing norms 6-feet gap to be followed and each alternative seat to kept vacant. It means when you and your Co-visitor or your loved one are allowed to watch the movie together by splitting with a distance of one seat between each other.

Seats which are “Not to be occupied” will be marked while booking for both offline and online at the box office while purchasing tickets.

Inside, the hall seats with “not to be occupied ” will be marked with either inflorescent markers or taped from occupying these seats. These instructions are usually preferred to ensure adequate distancing at all times.

Strict rules issued by I&B ministry to the cinema theatre management that, they should ensure to avoid overcrowding in the common areas, washrooms, lobbies during intervals. It is to follow in preventing strolling out of the hall during intermissions. Longer intervals are to allow the audience to get back in their seats from different rows of the auditorium to move to in a staggered manner. At the end of the show, management has to ensure the proper distancing should be maintained at the exit doors to avoid crowding movement.

The I&B Ministry has strictly suggested that the show commencement time, intermission period and finish time of a show at any screen will not overlap with the commencement time, intermission duration or end time of a show at any other screen at a theatre. To prefer digital and No-contact transactions and to arrange enough counters to avoid crowd gatherings at the box office while booking a ticket. It is mandatory to sanitize the hall after each screening and to maintain the air conditioning within the range of 24-30°C.