Movie theaters to reopen from October 15! The Ministry of Broadcasting establishes guidelines, details

Since March, movie theaters have been closed due to the coronavirus outbreak in India, and after seven months, movie theaters are scheduled to open. According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, movie theaters will be able to resume their operations as of October 15 and they have established some guidelines for it. The Union Minister for the Broadcasting Ministry, Prakash Javadekar, has published standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the operation of movie theaters in order to prevent the transmission of the novel coronavirus.

The basic guidelines for movie theaters involve everyone who works there or who comes to the movies to wear the mask at all times. Everyone in the theater premises should adhere to respiratory and hand hygiene. Apart from this, below are the guidelines for movie theaters.

POE for movie theaters:

• The air conditioning in the hallways will remain in the 24-30 ° C range and the relative humidity is expected to be in the 40-70 percent range. The government has asked operators to avoid recirculation of air.
• All cinemas and multiplexes cannot be more than 50 percent full.
• Everyone, including staff members, will be thermally screened at entry and exit points. Entrance to the cinema will not be allowed to any symptomatic person.
• Hand sanitizers will be placed at all entrances and exits. People have been asked to line in and out of the theater and avoid the crowds.
• There will be enough time between two shows, be it a single screen cinema or a multiplex. The government has asked cinemas to have staggered show times.
• The seating arrangements must be made in such a way that it complies with the rules of social and physical distancing.
• All ticket reservations and payments will be made through the online mode using electronic wallets, QR code readers. The purchase of tickets will also be made in advance.
• The floors of the cinema will have places marked for people to avoid overcrowding.
• After each screening, the room will be completely disinfected before. In addition to hallways, all other places in a multiplex, including stairways, bathrooms, waiting rooms, and more, must also be frequently disinfected.
• Cinema staff must be equipped with gloves, boots, masks, and PPE.
• For individuals, food and beverages can be purchased through cinema apps / QR codes and various food counters will be made available whenever possible. Staff are also prohibited from delivering food within the hallways.
• The government also urged the use of the Aarogya Setu mobile app.

Standard operating procedures, SOP’s for movie theaters, multiplexes, etc. were announced. for the screening of films, which will reopen from October 15 according to the guidelines of the Ministry of the Interior.#UnlockWithPrecautions pic.twitter.com/X1XZFZoDAT

– Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) October 6, 2020

The government has also notified that movie theaters will not be allowed to operate within the containment zones. Additionally, the states and UT have also been instructed to consider additional measures to get the cinemas to work depending on their assessment of the situation.