Delhi unlock: Cinemas allowed to work in full capacity

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Friday issued an order allowing full-seating capacity in cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes, and also raised the number of people allowed to attend weddings and last rites from 100 to 200.

The order, listing various allowed and restricted activities because of the Covid pandemic, will come into effect from November 1.

It stated that owners of cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes will be responsible for strict adherence to standard operating protocol (SOP), official guidelines and Covid-appropriate behaviour at the premises.

'In case any violation is found, strict penal, criminal action shall be taken against the owner of the restaurant, bar, cinemas, theatres and multiplexes,' said the order.

Cinemas, theatres, multiplexes in the city were closed with the imposition of lockdown in April amid a raging second wave of Covid infections.

They were allowed to reopen with 50 per cent seating capacity in the last week of July.

The order also allowed meetings and conferences in banquet halls of the city.

So far, only marriages and exhibitions were allowed there.

The order permitted funeral and marriage-related gatherings with a ceiling of 200 people.

During the Covid surge in April, attendance at funerals was scaled down to 20 while marriages were permitted with the presence of 50 people.

With improvement in the Covid situation, 100 people were allowed in both types of gatherings.

All classes in schools will also resume from November 1 according to the order.

This decision was taken in a meeting of DDMA earlier this week because of appreciable improvement in the Covid situation in the city.

Senior classes (nine to 12) were restarted earlier with a maximum 50 per cent seating capacity.

All social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious gatherings will remain prohibited.

However, festival-related gatherings will be allowed according to the DDMA's September 30 order.

Restaurants and bars will continue to open with a 50 per cent seating capacity. Delhi Metro and public transport buses will ply with full seating capacity but no standing passengers will be allowed, stated the order.

All the allowed and restricted activities will be permitted till the intervening night of November 15-16 or till any further orders, it added.

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Not sharing lunch, books, staggered entry, exit among DDMA guidelines for school reopening

Not sharing lunch and books, staggered entry and exit at different points, mandatory face masks and restricted entrance for visitors are among the guidelines announced by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) for reopening schools and colleges for all classes from November 1.

The DDMA had earlier this week allowed the reopening of schools for all classes after a prolonged closure of 19 months. However, schools have been asked to ensure no more than 50 pc per cent attendance is recorded at a time.

'There should be a gap of at least one hour between the exit of the last group of the morning shift and entry of the first group of evening shift in double-shifted schools and colleges.

'Similarly, all other educational and coaching institutes shall maintain a gap between batches and shifts. The help of volunteers may be taken to avoid crowding and maintaining of Covid-appropriate behaviour at the entry/exit gates of the building,' the DDMA guidelines stated.

It has ordered students, teachers and employees living in containment zones will not be allowed to come to campus.

'The area or part of the school/institute building being used for vaccination or ration distribution should be properly separated/demarcated from the area/part of the school/institute building that will be used for academic activities.

'In this regard, district administration shall cordon off the area demarcated for vaccination or ration distribution centre, make separate entry/exit for this purpose and deploy a sufficient number of civil defence volunteers to avoid mingling of students with people coming to vaccination or ration distribution centres,' it said.

The Delhi government had earlier announced the reopening of schools for classes nine to 12, colleges and coaching institutions from September 1 following a marked improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the national capital.

However, this is the first time that schools will reopen for all classes after the outbreak of the pandemic.

Many principals and heads of school associations have welcomed the decision of the DDMA to reopen schools and colleges for all classes, saying it was taken at 'just the right time' while others felt it was 'delayed'.

Parents, however, were divided on the issue with some calling it necessary to make up for the learning loss and others raising concerns about COVID-19 risk amid festivities and rising pollution levels.

Some also expressed concern about several schools not providing transport when they reopened for classes nine to 12.