Mumbai: Cinema halls, drama theaters, multiplexes, swimming pools and yoga institutes in Maharashtra can reopen outside containment zones from November 5, the state government said Wednesday. Cinema halls, multiplexes and drama theaters will be allowed to operate with 50 per cent of seating capacity. However, no edibles will be allowed inside.
All these establishments were closed since lockdown was imposed to contain coronavirus in March. Last month the Maharashtra government had allowed hotels and bars to reopen.
As per the latest government guidelines, swimming pools used for training of state, national and international-level sportspersons and located outside containment zones can operate from November 5.
Yoga institutes, indoor sports facilities such as badminton halls, tennis, squash courts, indoor shooting ranges will also be allowed to operate from Thursday, the government said in a release. It also said in the guidelines that physical distancing and sanitisation must be ensured.
The remaining lockdown restrictions have already been extended till November 30.
The decision to remain cinema halls and multiplexes will certainly be a huge relief for the Hindi film industry. They had been waiting for this day with a number of important releases lined up. However, now it remains to be seen whether people visit the halls once they reopen Thursday.