The
Ministry
of
Information
and
Broadcasting
has
allowed
100
per
cent
occupancy
in
multiplexes
and
cinema
halls
from
February
1
on
Sunday.
In
this
regard,
the
I&B
Ministry
has
issued
a
set
of
guidelines
for
cinema
halls
and
theatres
to
prevent
the
spread
of
COVID-19.
The
SOPs
(Standard
Operating
Protocol)
said
that
no
film
screening
shall
be
held
in
containment
zones.
As
per
the
guidelines,
all
staff
and
visitors
will
have
to
maintain
adequate
physical
distancing
and
use
face
masks
at
all
times.
They
need
to
install
Aarogya
Setu
app
on
their
mobile
devices
and
get
mandatory
temperature
checks.
Other
measures
include
staggered
show
timings
and
bookings,
separation
of
seats
in
the
theatre
and
sanitisation
after
every
show.
I&B
minister
Prakash
Javadekar
also
shared
the
news
on
his
Twitter
account
and
wrote,
“Good
news
for
Cinema
lovers:
Today,
Issued
the
revised
SOP
for
the
film
exhibition,
100%
occupancy
will
be
allowed
in
theatres
from
1st
February,
but
all
@MoHFW_INDIA
#COVID19
guidelines
will
have
to
be
followed.”
Some
of
the
key
details
of
the
SOPs
are
as
follows:
The
physical
distancing
of
six
feet
will
be
mandatory
outside
auditoriums,
common
areas,
and
waiting
areas.
Spitting
will
be
prohibited
on
the
premises.
People
would
be
thermally
screened
upon
entrance
and
their
exit
should
be
done
in
a
staggered
row-wise
manner
to
avoid
crowding.
Show
timings
shall
also
be
staggered
across
multiple
screens
to
avoid
crowding.
Contactless
digital
transactions
for
tickets,
food
and
beverages
has
been
promoted
in
the
guidelines. Advance
booking
should
be
allowed
to
avoid
crowding
at
counters
and
a
sufficient
number
of
box
office
counters
shall
be
opened
for
the
purchase
of
tickets,
that
shall
be
open
throughout
the
day.
Frequent
sanitization
of
entire
premises
should
be
done
and
measures
should
also
be
taken
for
public
awareness
against
COVID-19.
The
audience
may
be
encouraged
to
avoid
movement
during
the
intermission
and
longer
intermissions
may
be
used
to
allow
movement
of
the
audience
in
a
staggered
manner.
The
temperature
of
air
conditioning
and
humidity
should
be
in
the
range
24-30°C
and
40-70%
respectively.
Cross
ventilation
should
be
adequate.