Karnataka allows cinema halls to operate at 100 percent capacity for 4 weeks on trial basis
Bengaluru, Feb 3: Considering the hardships faced by Kannada film industry's artistes, producers and workers, it has been decided to allow cinema halls to fill up to 100 percent of their capacity for four weeks on a trial basis, Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar said on Wednesday.
The minister made the announcement after a meeting held as per instructions of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa with key office-bearers of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and representatives from the industry.
As per technical advisory committee's recommendations, the Health department had earlier allowed 50 per cent seatings in cinema halls.
Though Centre had given green signal for 100 per cent seating, the decision was left to the discretion of state governments depending on the situation in each state, he noted.
The film industry had opposed this decision and requested to reconsider it keeping in view the welfare of those employed in this field.
They had also appealed to the Chief Minister to support them in this "difficult time".
"It was discussed and as per the instructions of Chief Minister, the decision has been taken to allow 100 per cent seatings for four weeks.Strict guidelines will be released tomorrow," he said.
"Owners of cinema halls should adhere to these guidelines and people should strictly follow.If any case of COVID-19 is detected, government will have to inevitably revoke the decision," the minister cautioned.
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Pakistan reports two more polio cases; Total tally now 52
ISLAMABAD: At least two more cases of poliovirus were reported in Pakistan, taking the number of infections to 52 so far this year, a report said on Friday.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan," an official statement said.
The fresh infections — a boy and a girl — were reported from the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
“Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is underway," the statement read. Dera Ismail Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported five polio cases so far this year.
Of the 52 cases in the country this year, 24 are from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
There is no cure for polio. Only multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five can keep them protected.
