New Delhi: In the light of a steady decline in Covid cases across the state over the last few days, Karnataka government has decided to ease Coronavirus-induced restrictions further from February 5.
According to the government order on Friday, gyms, theatres, all cinema halls, multiplexes, auditoriums and swimming pools have been allowed to operate at 100% capacity after following all Covid protocols.
The decision was taken after a meeting between Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and state health minister Dr K Sudhakar with other health experts.
Dr Sudhakar said that these centres would have to continue to comply with the Covid guidelines and only those people who have been administered both the doses of the vaccine for the pandemic would be allowed to enter the cinema halls, gyms, swimming pools and yoga centres.
Although the cinema halls have been allowed to function with full capacity, eating inside is strictly prohibited and the audience will have to wear a mask at all times inside the hall.
The decision to let the halls to operate with 100% audience strength comes after the film industry had been urging the government to lift the curbs as the industry has already incurred heavy losses due the Covid pandemic.
The government’s call to ease the Covid-induced curbs comes after the southern state has been consistently reporting a drop in Covid cases and the hospitalisation rate continues to remain low.
Earlier, the hotels, bars, pubs and restaurants were allowed to function at full capacity across the state.