In light of the improving coronavirus disease (Covid-19) situation in Mumbai, the city’s civic body – the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) – has allowed cinema halls, drama theatres, and auditoriums to reopen on Friday, albeit with pandemic-required protocols such as mandatory face mask use and social distancing.
The BMC issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for reopening these establishments earlier this week in three separate orders, which are intended to gradually bring the city’s entertainment and cultural landscape back on track after a prolonged period of closure due to the infectious disease. The Maharashtra government has also permitted amusement parks to reopen ‘dry’ (i.e., without any water rides) as of today.
The BMC stated that the SOPs would apply exclusively to Mumbai’s movie halls, drama theatres, and auditoriums that come under its civic authority. This week, the Maharashtra government released larger, state-wide rules outlining the SOPs for all such institutions that can function at 50% of their audience capacity.
