Cinemas in the Indian city of Mumbai are returning to 50% occupancy rates just six weeks after going back to 100% capacity levels – all due to a fresh wave of coronavirus.
India recorded 26,291 virus cases yesterday, its highest single-day number this year, and the trend has now been upward for several weeks.
The country was a virus hotbed last summer, but by the beginning of the year had dropped to beneath 10,000 cases per day. In response, the government re-opened the economy to pre-pandemic levels and cinemas returned to full occupancy from February 1st.
That’s all out the window now as Mumbai’s civic authority, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, confirmed that cinemas and hotels are back to 50% occupancy rates while no social/political/religious gatherings are being allowed. Work from home orders are also advised.
At present the vaccination rate for India is low with around 2 doses administered per 100 people – low compared to 33 for the U.S. and 38 for the U.K. but better than many countries like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Thailand and Egypt which all have less than 1 in 100 people having had a dose.
Source: Deadline
