Delhi: Cinemas, spas to open with 50% capacity; metro, buses to run with full seating

In some cheer for Delhi residents, cinemas, theatres, multiplexes and spas in Delhi will open from July 27, while the Delhi Metro and public buses will be permitted to operate with 100% seating capacity, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) said in an order Saturday.

The order also directed that number of people allowed at marriage functions and last rites will be raised to 100 from Monday.

All auditoriums and assembly halls have been permitted to open from Monday at 50% seating capacity.

For the past nine days, the Covid-19 positivity rate in Delhi has remained below 0.1% when across India, the positivity rate is currently around 2.4%. In the last week of April, when the second wave was at its peak, the positivity rate in Delhi had touched 36%. Now, daily fresh cases and deaths are at an all-time low. However, the government is not lowering its guard.

This leaves schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutes under the category of prohibited activities in Delhi. All social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious and festival-related gatherings also remain banned. However, the DDMA has made an exception for farmers protesting against the three agricultural laws at Jantar Mantar till the end of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament.

No other changes have been announced. All shops and markets will be allowed to open between 10am and 8pm like before. Eateries are allowed to function with up to 50% of their seating capacity from 8am to 10pm, and bars with up to 50% of the seating capacity, from 12pm to 10pm. "The owners of restaurants and bars will be responsible for strict compliance with social-distancing norms and Covid-19-appropriate behaviour like wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing, regular hand washing and use of sanitiser etc.," said the DDMA.

Public transport facilities like autos, e-rickshaws and cabs, gramin seva and phatphat sewa are allowed to operate with up to two passengers, maxi cabs with up to five passengers and RTVs with up to 11 passengers.

NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitize, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona