I&B Ministry's must follow SOP for cinema halls; Here is what you need to know

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar had earlier said that under the newly announced guidelines of 'Unlock 5.0', all cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes will re-open from October 15. During a media brief, Javadekar announced that all the cinema halls and theatres will have to follow COVID-19 guidelines and standard operating protocols (SOPs).

Here is the list of SOPs for cinema halls:

1. Occupancy of the auditorium shall not be more than 50 percent

2. Adequate physical distancing while seating

3. Seats 'Not to be occupied' shall be marked as such

4. Provision for hand wash and hand sanitizers

5. Installation and use of the Arogya Setu App shall be advised to all

6. Thermal screening to be carried out. Only asymptomatic individuals shall be allowed

7. Self-monitoring of health and reporting any illness

8. Staggered show timings shall be followed for different screens

9. Digital modes of payments to be encouraged

10. Regular cleaning and disinfection of the box office, and other areas

11. Sufficient number of counters at the box office shall be opened

12. Audience encouraged to avoid movement during the intermission

13. Floor markets shall be used for physical distancing for queue management at the box office

14. Purchase of tickets at the box office to be open throughout the day, advance booking to be allowed to avoid crowding

15. Spitting shall be strictly prohibited

16. Respiratory etiquettes to be strictly followed

17. Only packaged food and beverages shall be allowed; no delivery inside the hall

18. Multiple sale counters for food and beverage

19. Measures for the safety of sanitization staff such as adequate provisions for gloves, boots, masks, PPE, etc

20. Contact number shall be taken to facilitate contact tracing

21. Sufficient number of counters at the box office shall be opened

22. COVID-19 related stigmatization or unruly behavior shall be dealt with strictly

The cinema halls across the country were shut since March 24 this year following the announcement of a nationwide lockdown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The halls and multiplexes have incurred huge losses due to the shutdown. It remains to be seen if the movie buffs would hit the halls and multiplexes as several of the releases have taken place over the OTT platform and more importantly corona fear is still there among most of the people.

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