Cinema Halls To Reopen From October 1 In West Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee

All cinema halls and theatres remained shut since the Covid-19 lockdown began in March this year across the state.

Cinema halls are set to reopen from October 1 in West Bengal, confirmed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday. She also said that musical, dance and magic shows will be permitted in the state as well from next month. "To return to normalcy, jatras, plays, OATs, cinemas and all musical, dance, recital and magic shows shall be allowed to function with 50 participants or less from 1 Oct," Banerjee tweeted late on Saturday night.

To return to normalcy, Jatras, Plays, OATs, Cinemas & all musical, dance, recital & magic shows shall be allowed to function with 50 participants or less from 1 Oct, subject to adherence to physical distancing norms, wearing of masks & compliance to precautionary protocols.

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 26, 2020

The CM said that it would be a subject to adherence to physical distancing norms, wearing of masks and compliance to precautionary protocols. The West Bengal government's decision has come in the wake of social media campaigns carried out by multiplex and single screen owners protesting the denial of reopening permits to them. All cinema halls and theatres remained shut since the Covid-19 lockdown began in March this year across the state. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death toll in West Bengal on Saturday went up to 4,721 with 56 more people succumbing to the disease, the state health department said in a bulletin. The tally increased to 2,44,240 after 3,181 people tested positive for the infection.