Karnataka eases Covid curbs, allows theatres to open from today with 50% occupancy

Karnataka has announced further relaxations to the Covid lockdown norms by allowing temples, cinema halls, multiplexes, 'rangamandiras' (theatres), auditoriums among others to reopen across the state from Monday, July 19 onwards, with 50 per cent occupancy rate. 

According to fresh guidelines released by the Revenue Department in Bengaluru, besides all entertainment centres, the state government also reduced the duration of night curfew by an hour from July 19, while higher educational institutions like colleges and universities will start from July 26, but with riders.

The fresh guidelines came after a meeting chaired by Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa with senior ministers and officials at his official residence 'Cauvery' in Bengaluru on Sunday. It was decided to allow reopening of cinema theatres and multiplexes with 50 per cent occupancy after adhering to Covid safety protocols. 

Colleges to reopen from July 26

Colleges, universities and all skill-development training centres, including long-term technical courses, will be allowed to operate from July 26 but the respective institutions can allow only those who have been inoculated with at least one dose of vaccine to attend their duties and classes.

After the meeting, Karnataka Revenue Minister R. Ashoka told reporters that it was decided to lift all restrictions enforced in temples across the state.

"Temples will resume their regular operations from Monday. Though issue of reopening pubs and swimming activities did figure during the meeting, but a decision was not taken on these two activities," he said in response to a question.

The minister added that relaxations announced by the government would help the cinema industry in a big way, as theatres had remained shut for the longest time since last year, among all other sectors.

Night curfew relaxation

He added that relaxation of the night curfew, which was from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Monday, would help daily wage workers to a large extent.

After the second wave of pandemic had hit the state in early April this year, the state government had imposed restrictions since April 27 and these were made stringent from May 10 as the Covid positive cases on daily basis had touched around 50,000 cases.

From May 5, the state government had enforced stringed lock down measures till June 14. Since then, the government had been easing lockdown norms step by step as suggested by experts. First round of easing lockdown restrictions was on June 14, then again these were eased further on June 21 and again on July 5.