Govt Okays More People at Exhibition Halls, Theatres; Opens Swimming Pools for All from Feb 1 to 28

by  EVENTFAQS Bureau Industry Watch | January 28, 2021 | News

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW)

In the post-COVID come-back scenario, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued an order with Guidelines for Surveillance, Containment and Caution, easing many restrictions imposed by it earlier during the pandemic. The order will be effective from February 1, 2021 and will remain in force upto February 28, 2021. The main focus of the guidelines issued is to consolidate the substantial gains that have been achieved against the spread of COVID-19, to maintain caution and to strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy and new guidelines/SOPs issued by MHA and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW).

According to the guidelines, there will be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods including those for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission, approval or e-permit will be required for such movements.

The prescribed SOPs

All activities have been permitted outside Containment Zones, subject to strict adherence of SOPs, as indicated below:

• Social/ religious/ sports/ entertainment/ educational/ cultural/ religious gatherings have already been permitted upto a maximum of 50% of the hall capacity, with a ceiling of 200 persons in closed spaces; and keeping the size of the ground/ space in view, in open spaces. Now such gatherings will be allowed subject to SOP of the State/Union Territory concerned.
• Cinema halls and theatres have already been permitted upto 50% of seating capacity. Now they will be permitted to operate at higher seating capacity, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in consultation with MHA.
• Swimming pools have already been permitted for use of sports persons. Now, swimming pools will be permitted for use of all, for which a revised SOP will be issued by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYA&S) in consultation with MHA.
• Business to Business (B2B) exhibition halls have already been permitted. Now, all types of exhibition halls will be permitted, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Department of Commerce in consultation with MHA.
• For further opening up of international air travel of passengers, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) may take a decision in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) based on the assessment of the situation.

SOPs, as updated from time to time, have been prescribed for various activities. These include: movement by passenger trains; air travel; metro trains; schools; higher educational institutions; hotels and restaurants; shopping malls, multiplexes and entertainment parks; yoga centres and gymnasiums, etc. These SOPs shall be strictly enforced by the authorities concerned, who shall be responsible for their strict observance, the guidelines said.