Cinemas in Kerala state have been allowed to reopen from January 5. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on New Year’s Day announced a reopening of society from 5th. Cinemas will be able to operate at 50% of their capacities. They will also have to strictly observe the COVID-19 guidelines prescribed by the health department, failing which stringent action will be taken against them. The chief minister said that cinemas, which had been shut for almost 10 months due to the coronavirus pandemic, should be thoroughly sanitised before reopening on January 5.