Bhubaneswar: Odisha government Wednesday in its Unlock 8 guidelines for the month of January allowed reopening of cinema halls across the state.
Cinema halls and theatres will be allowed to open with 50 per cent capacity. Open air theatres, ‘jatras’ and entertainment parks will be permitted by local authorities subject to compliance of safety protocols such as wearing of masks, social distancing, etc.
“Cinema halls, theatres shall be allowed to open with up to 50% of capacity and operate as per SOP issued by the Government of India/ State Government in that regard,” read the official order.
Marriage related gatherings shall be allowed with a ceiling of 200 persons and funeral/last rites related gatherings with a ceiling of 100 persons, the order said.
Business to business (B2B) and business to consumers (B2C) exhibitions will be allowed in exhibition halls with participants and visitors up to 50 per cent of the hall capacity subjected to a maximum ceiling of 200 persons and in compliance with Covid safety protocols, the guidelines said.
However, the lockdown will be enforced within containment zones.
The state government has also prohibited congregation in public places for zero night celebration and similar other function December 31 and January 1 across the state in view of Covid-19 pandemic.
The congregation in public places including hotel, restaurants, club, parks, convention centres and Kalyan Mandap for zero Night celebration/ Welcome to New Year and similar other functions is prohibited, said a separate order of the chief secretary.
The state is passing through a critical stage of COVID-19 pandemic and it is necessary to strictly adhere to safety protocols to contain the spread of the infection, the order read.
PNN/Agencies