Govt guidelines for cinema halls as they prepare to reopen from Oct 15

The government has issued fresh guidelines regarding operations at cinema halls and multiplexes that are all set to open on October 15 after being shut for over six months.
As per the new guidelines, cinemas are allowed to operate with up to 50 per cent seating capacity with a one-seat distance in order to maintain appropriate physical distance between people.
Announcing the instructions, Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Prakash Javadekar said that all COVID-19 guidelines and standard operating protocols (SOPs) issued by the (I&B) ministry must be adhered to at all cinema halls/theatres.
Check out more details.

6-feet distance

Adequate physical distancing of at least 6 feet to be followed outside the auditoriums, common areas and waiting areas at all times.

Use of face covers/masks, hand sanitisers

Use of face covers/ masks to be made mandatory at all times. Availability of hand sanitizers, preferably in the touch-free mode, at entry and exit points as well as common areas within the premises.

Respiratory etiquette inside the movie theatre

Respiratory etiquette will be strictly followed. This involves strict practice of covering one's mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue/handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing off used tissues properly.

Self-monitoring

Self-monitoring of health by all and reporting any illness at the earliest to state and district helpline.

Thermal screening of visitors/staff is to be carried out at entry points. Only asymptomatic individuals shall be allowed to enter the premises.

Sufficient time interval between successive screenings on a single screen as well as on various screens in a multiplex shall be provided to ensure row-wise staggered entry and exit of the audience.

The occupancy of the cinemas/theatres/multiplexes shall not be more than 50% of their total seating capacity. Seating arrangement inside the auditorium of the cinemas /theatres / multiplexes to be made in such a way that adequate physical distancing is maintained.

No overcrowding

Efforts shall be made to avoid overcrowding in the common areas, lobbies and washrooms during the intermission. Audience may be encouraged to avoid movement during the intermission. Longer intermissions may be used to allow audience seated in different rows of the auditorium to move in a staggered manner.
Proper crowd management in the parking lots and outside the premises-duly following physical distancing norms shall be ensured.
Number of people in the elevators shall be restricted, duly maintaining physical distancing norms.

No contact transaction, most preferable

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. Sufficient number of counters at the box office shall be opened with adequate physical distancing norms, to prevent crowding during physical booking of tickets.

Sanitisation of the premises

Frequent sanitisation of the entire premises, common facilities, and all points which come into human contact, e.g. handles, railings, etc. shall be ensured. The cinemas/theatres/multiplexes auditorium shall be sanitized after every screening.