Odisha Unlock-5: Cinemas, temples to remain closed in October
BHUBANESWAR: The state government has decided to keep cinema halls, entertainment complexes and theatres closed till October 31 though the Central guidelines allow their reopening from October 15.
Similarly, temples, mosques and churches will continue to remain closed for the devotees this month, the guidelines issued by the special relief commissioner for the month said.
Notably, the Centre has allowed reopening of the cinema halls with 50% capacity from October 15. The Centre has also allowed resuming of entertainment complexes and theatres from the same date and would come out with a standard operating procedure for the same. The Centre has allowed opening of the religious places and places of worship since June.
The decision on keeping temples closed was widely anticipated because the government, in an affidavit in the Orissa high court recently had said that reopening of the religious places cannot be done for public in view of rising Covid-19 cases. “Since it will be difficult to ensure social distancing norms in places of worships and cinemas, the government doesn’t want to take a risk at this point of pandemic,” a senior government officer said.
The government order said swimming pools owned and controlled or recognised by the government will be allowed for training of sportspersons from October 15. Schools, colleges, universities, coaching institutions and anganwadis will remain closed except for exams/evaluation and administrative works. Centre allows states to take a decision for graded reopening of the educational institutions from October 15.
Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations will remain prohibited in the state. The Centre has already allowed such gatherings with ceiling of 100 people. In view of the upcoming by-elections in Balasore Sadar and Tirtol assembly seats on November 3, the government said gatherings in connection with the bypoll will be allowed subject to ceiling of 100 persons who have to wear masks, maintain physical distancing, provision of thermal scanning, hand washing or sanitizers. Any meeting in closed premises will be allowed upto 50% capacity of the premises but not exceeding 100 people.
Open air theatres are allowed to reopen subject to precautions. Odisha will continue to have cap on gatherings of 50 in marriages and 20 in funeral till end of October. Central guidelines increased the number to 100 from September 21.