<p>With a decline in the number of active and new Covid-19 cases and vaccination drive on, the Centre on Wednesday allowed cinema halls and theatres to operate with higher capacity and swimming pools permitted for use by all.</p>.<p>In fresh Covid-19 reopening guidelines which will be effective from Feb. 1, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday reiterated that there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods including those for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries.</p>.<p>The ministry said the main focus of the guidelines is to consolidate the substantial gains that have been achieved against the spread of Covid-19 which is visible in the steady decline in the number of active and new cases in the country over the last four months.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/delhi-sees-96-single-day-covid-19-cases-lowest-in-over-nine-months-944003.html">Delhi sees 96 single-day Covid-19 cases, lowest in over nine months</a></strong></p>.<p>Indicating its openness to further opening of international air travel of passengers, the MHA said that the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) may take a decision in consultation with MHA based on the assessment of the situation.</p>.<p>"Cinema halls and theatres have already been permitted upto 50% of seating capacity. Now they will be permitted to operate at higher seating capacity, for which a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in consultation with MHA," the official statement said.</p>.<p>There are also relaxations on rules for swimming pools, which had already been permitted for use by sportspeople. "Now, swimming pools will be permitted for use by all, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports in consultation with MHA," it said.</p>.<p>Business to Business exhibition halls have already been permitted. Now, all types of exhibition halls will be permitted, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Department of Commerce in consultation with the MHA.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/if-you-squeeze-the-coronavirus-does-it-shatter-or-squish-943724.html">If you squeeze the coronavirus, does it shatter or squish?</a></strong></p>.<p>Social, religious, sports, entertainment, educational, cultural, religious gatherings have already been permitted up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the hall capacity, with a ceiling of 200 people in closed spaces. Events are allowed in open spaces too.</p>.<p>"Now, such gatherings will be allowed subject to SOP of the state and UT concerned," the guidelines said.</p>.<p>Now containment zones, if required, shall be carefully demarcated by the district authorities at a "micro-level", taking into consideration guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in this regard, according to the new guidelines.</p>.<p>The new guidelines came on a day when the number of total active Covid-19 cases in India stands at 1,76,498 with 12,689 new cases and 137 more fatalities. Delhi, which had nearly seen a second wave, also recorded a single-day rise of under 100 cases (96) on Tuesday, which is the lowest in over nine months. Nine deaths were reported in the national capital in its daily update.</p>
<p>With a decline in the number of active and new Covid-19 cases and vaccination drive on, the Centre on Wednesday allowed cinema halls and theatres to operate with higher capacity and swimming pools permitted for use by all.</p>.<p>In fresh Covid-19 reopening guidelines which will be effective from Feb. 1, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday reiterated that there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods including those for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries.</p>.<p>The ministry said the main focus of the guidelines is to consolidate the substantial gains that have been achieved against the spread of Covid-19 which is visible in the steady decline in the number of active and new cases in the country over the last four months.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/delhi-sees-96-single-day-covid-19-cases-lowest-in-over-nine-months-944003.html">Delhi sees 96 single-day Covid-19 cases, lowest in over nine months</a></strong></p>.<p>Indicating its openness to further opening of international air travel of passengers, the MHA said that the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) may take a decision in consultation with MHA based on the assessment of the situation.</p>.<p>"Cinema halls and theatres have already been permitted upto 50% of seating capacity. Now they will be permitted to operate at higher seating capacity, for which a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in consultation with MHA," the official statement said.</p>.<p>There are also relaxations on rules for swimming pools, which had already been permitted for use by sportspeople. "Now, swimming pools will be permitted for use by all, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports in consultation with MHA," it said.</p>.<p>Business to Business exhibition halls have already been permitted. Now, all types of exhibition halls will be permitted, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Department of Commerce in consultation with the MHA.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/if-you-squeeze-the-coronavirus-does-it-shatter-or-squish-943724.html">If you squeeze the coronavirus, does it shatter or squish?</a></strong></p>.<p>Social, religious, sports, entertainment, educational, cultural, religious gatherings have already been permitted up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the hall capacity, with a ceiling of 200 people in closed spaces. Events are allowed in open spaces too.</p>.<p>"Now, such gatherings will be allowed subject to SOP of the state and UT concerned," the guidelines said.</p>.<p>Now containment zones, if required, shall be carefully demarcated by the district authorities at a "micro-level", taking into consideration guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in this regard, according to the new guidelines.</p>.<p>The new guidelines came on a day when the number of total active Covid-19 cases in India stands at 1,76,498 with 12,689 new cases and 137 more fatalities. Delhi, which had nearly seen a second wave, also recorded a single-day rise of under 100 cases (96) on Tuesday, which is the lowest in over nine months. Nine deaths were reported in the national capital in its daily update.</p>