The Delhi administration today (7th October) announced that cinemas will be permitted to reopen in the Union territory from 15th October. The Delhi government had made it clear on 1st October that cinemas would not be allowed to restart from 15th October. In fact, Anil Baijal, the lieutenant governor of Delhi, had then said that cinemas and schools will remain shut till 31st October in view of the COVId-19 situation in the Union territory. The Department of Delhi Disaster Management Authority had also made it clear that the ongoing restrictions, which include cinema closure, will remain in force till October 31. However, the government today made it clear that cinemas would reopen from October 15.
The Centre had on 30th September announced October 15 as the date for cinemas to resume operations with 50% occupancy and subject to sanitisation and hygiene protocols being followed rigorously. It had left it to the discretion of the different state governments to assess the situation in their respective states and decide whether cinemas in their states could reopen on 15th October or announce another date.