Centre allows 100% occupancy at cinema halls; Ministry of I&B issues guidelines

Major relief to the cinema exhibition sector as the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has allowed 100% occupancy in multiplexes and cinema halls. For the unversed, the movie theatres were shut for seven months last year owing to COVID 19 pandemic and have been struggling with low attendance. The ministry has issued important guidelines standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be followed in cinema halls.

According to the release, no films shall be screened in containment zones and all staff and viewers will have to follow measures such as adequate physical distancing of at least six feet, use face covers or face masks at all times and install Aarogya Setu App on their phones.

Ministry of I&B issues guidelines

The general public health measures include Adequate physical distancing of at least 6 feet to be followed outside the auditoriums. Use of face covers/masks to be made mandatory, Availability of hand sanitizers.

Stern efforts should be made to avoid overcrowding in the common areas, lobbies and washrooms during the intermission. Audiences may be encouraged to avoid movement during the intermission. Longer intermissions may be used to allow the audience seated in different rows of the auditorium to move in a staggered manner.

Staggered show timings shall be followed for multiple screens to avoid crowding. Regular cleaning and disinfection of the box office, food and beverage areas, employee and staff lockers. Also, toilets, public areas, and back office areas shall be ensured.

Seating Arrangement:

As for the Seating Arrangements, the guidelines include cinemas/theatres/multiplexes are to be allowed up to 100% seating capacity. Proper crowd management in the parking lots and outside the premises. The thermal screening of visitors/staff is to be carried out at entry points.

For, Booking and Payments, Digital no-contact transactions should be the most preferred mode for issue/verification/payments for tickets, food, and beverages, etc. by using online bookings, use of e-wallets, QR code scanners, etc.

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The movie theatres will have to be sanitised after every screening. Temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30°C, among other precautionary measures.

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