Unlock 5: Reopening Cinemas And Entertainment Parks, Allowing Larger Congregations
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
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By Linus Garg
First publised on 2020-10-01 09:03:36
About the Author
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
View all posts by this Author
The ongoing process of reopening the country continued with Unlock 5 announced by the Centre late on September 30. Under the current guidelines the following have been permitted outside containment zones:
Cinema halls and theatres to reopen from October 15 with tickets being sold up to 50 percent of their capacity
States to take a call on reopening of educational institutions
Schools must allow students to avail online mode of learning and attendance for physical classes must not be made mandatory
Swimming pools can reopen from October 15 for training of sportspersons
Business to business exhibitions can be held from October 15
Entertainment parks can reopen for the public from October 15
State governments may permit social/academic/sports/entertainment/cultural/religious and political functions with congregation of more than 100 persons in closed spaces only up to 50 percent seating capacity with a ceiling of 200 persons and in open spaces as per the size of the space
International air travel, other than that allowed by MHA, is suspended till October 31
The reopening of cinema halls and theatres was on the cards. Earlier, the government was willing to allow reopening with only 25 percent audience. This was rejected as unviable by the trade. Now, with 50 percent audience, one thinks that halls will have something to cheer about. Since malls are open, there was no point in keeping the halls closed as the two feed on each other. With multiplexes closed, footfalls in malls were not good. Hopefully, the SOPs will be strictly followed and people will nejoy movies on the big screen.
It is good that the Centre has put the onus of deciding about reopening educational institutions on the states. The states are best placed to decide on this given the ground situation in each state. It is also good that the Centre has taken into account the concerns of parents and has asked schools not to penalize students for not attending physical classes.
The reopening of entertainment parks is also welcome. Children are getting bugged staying at home for the last 6 months and occasional activity in open air will do a lot of good to them. It is obvious that parents will take a call on this and will decide if it is safe to take them to such places, but the option has been given.
Since September was the worst month in the progress of the virus in India (the numbers are high mainly due to the rise in testing), it is absolutely necessary that strict discipline is maintained in all places that have been allowed to reopen. SOPs must be put in place and all health protocols must be strictly followed. Living with the virus is the new normal, but there must not be any laxity in following the rules.
