After a seven-month shutdown, single screens, multiplexes and drama theatres will finally open on the weekend before Diwali. State government to issue SoPs soon
Representational Image | Pic/iStock
Single screens, multiplexes, drama theatres and auditoriums will reopen across the state from October 22 in compliance with the health protocols, which will soon be issued by the government.
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CM Uddhav Thackeray announced this after meeting eminent people from the entertainment industry on Saturday. The State Covid-19 Task Force members also participated in the deliberations that were held after the industry’s demand to not delay the resumption further.
On Friday, Thackeray announced that schools and junior colleges will resume physical classes from October 4, while places of worship will be allowed to reopen on October 7, the first day of Navratri.
“The standard operating procedures (SoPs) are being prepared. We will announce SoPs soon,” said the CM in a statement.
राज्यातील चित्रपटगृहे आणि नाट्यगृहे २२ ऑक्टोबरनंतर आरोग्याचे नियम पाळून खुली करण्यास परवानगी देण्यात येईल असे मुख्यमंत्री उद्धव बाळासाहेब ठाकरे यांनी घोषित केले आहे. यासंदर्भात सविस्तर कार्य पद्धती एसओपी तयार करण्याचे काम सुरू असून ती लवकरच जाहीर करण्यात येईल.
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) September 25, 2021
The announcement came a day after the Maharashtra government allowed the schools to reopen from October 4 and all religious places from October 7.
Also Read: Schools welcome move to reopen from October 4, mixed verdict from parents
The previous unlock in November had allowed multiplexes, cinema halls and auditoriums to operate at 50 per cent intake. Eatables were not allowed inside the halls.
The entertainment industry in Maharashtra will go face to face with the audience in October after a seven-month shutdown—the second one since last March. The reopening has been planned a weekend before Diwali, a favourite release time for big banners.
Saturday’s meeting with the CM was attended by Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, state chief secretary Sitaram Kunte, filmmakers Rohit Shetty and Kunal Kapoor, film and theatre personalities Makarand Deshpande, Subodh Bhave and Aadesh Bandekar.
Maharashtra on Friday reported 3,286 new coronavirus cases and 51 deaths, which took the state''s infection tally to 65,37,843 and the toll to 1,38,776, a health department official said.
With 3,933 patients discharged from hospitals, the number of recovered cases rose to 63,57,012. Maharashtra now has 39,491 active cases