Haryana allows opening of cinema halls, multiplexes with 50% capacity

Chandigarh: The Haryana government on Friday eased some Covid-related restrictions in the state, allowing the opening of all cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes with 50 percent seating capacity, a government order said.

"All cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes are allowed to open with 50 percent seating capacity while adopting requisite social distancing norms, regular sanitisation and Covid-19 appropriate behavioural norms," as per the order issued by the Haryana State Disaster Management Authority (HSDMA). An earlier order of the HSDMA issued on January 5 had stated that cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes shall remain closed.

Friday's order also said, "Universities, colleges, schools (for classes 10 to 12), polytechnics, Industrial Training Institutes, coaching institutions, libraries, training institutes, both government and private, are allowed to open from February 1 for physical classes.

Education Minister Kanwar Pal had said on Tuesday schools for classes 10 to 12 will reopen in the state from February 1. The Haryana government had earlier this month suspended physical classes in all schools amid the surge in COVID-19 cases.

The educational institutions will have to adopt requisite social distancing norms, regular sanitisation and Covid appropriate behavioural norms, the fresh order said. "Concerned institutions may advise all the students of age group more than 15 years to have at least first dose of vaccination (against Covid), while attending physical classes," it said

Notably, various restrictions imposed by the January 5 order of the HSDMA in some districts, which had witnessed a big spike in cases, were imposed in all districts later.

Many other restrictions had on Wednesday been extended till 5 am of February 10.