New Delhi: On a day when new Coronavirus cases in Delhi jumped by 50% in 24 hours, the level 1 (yellow alert) of the graded response action plan (GRAP) kicked in with strict curbs.

Schools, colleges, cinema halls, multiplexes, banquet halls, auditoriums, spas, gyms, and yoga institutes will be shut. Religious places are open but no visitors are allowed. People can walk, run or play at parks and gardens, but picnics are barred. Private offices are allowed to operate from 9am-5pm at 50% attendance, unless they provide essential services. Public transport’s capacity has been limited to 50% seating and no standing passengers. Cabs, autos and e-rickshaws are also not allowed to carry more than two at a time.

Shops dealing in non-essentials can be open from 10 am-8 pm on an odd-even basis. Restaurants can operate from 8 am-10 pm with 50% capacity. Ditto for bars from noon-10 pm. Hotels and lodges can operate, as can barber shops and salons. Wedding gatherings must be restricted to 20 persons, held either at a court or at home. The 20-person cap is also for funerals.

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The film industry had barely started getting back on its feet and things seem to be going south again. The Delhi government, on Tuesday, announced yellow alert and theatres have now been shut down. Trade experts feel this will cause a domino effect, with films being pushed.

And it has started already. Actor Shahid Kapoor’s Jersey has been delayed. “In view of the current circumstances and new Covid-19 guidelines we have decided to postpone the theatrical release of our film Jersey. We have received immense love from you all so far and want to thank you all for everything. Until then everyone please stay safe and healthy, and wishing you all the best for the new year ahead!! Team Jersey (sic),” read a statement from the makers.

Rajender Singh Jyala, chief programming officer, INOX Leisure, says this move to shut down Delhi theatres will hurt. “After a long time, we were releasing films, and getting a good number at the box office. It definitely hurts. The cases were not that much, but if the government has taken a call we will abide by that,” he says.

Rumours are rife that actor Akshay Kumar’s Prithviraj will be postponed, too. Trade expert Atul Mohan says, “Why are cinemas the first casualty whenever we have any kind of threat coming in? You have venues operating at full capacity without protocols. We are the first ones to close down, last to reopen. Ab sab push ho jayega, including RRR starring Ram Charan and NTR Jr. This shutting down trend will spread to other states as well. This will be a bad start to the new year.”

Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi agrees that upcoming releases will also get affected. “When a market as important as Delhi shuts down, other releases will get postponed, too,” he opines.

Alongside theatres, spas, gyms and banquet halls in Delhi will also be shut. “Jab spa shut ho jayenge, hum kamayenge kaise? Work from home had already reduced our business,” says Prashant Mehar, manager at a spa in Delhi.

Omesh Chandna, owner, Anytime Fitness in South Delhi, adds, “Starting a fitness regime and joining a gym is often a New Year resolution for many people. By implementing this restriction, we’ve lost the opportunity to get back on track.”

Manoj Nanda, manager of Orabella Banquet in west Delhi says, “We are heavily booked from mid-January, which is when wedding saaya dates start. Right now, we don’t have too many bookings.”

Text by Sanchita Kalra and Siddhi Jain