Med fraternity against 100pc theatre occupancy, but movie buffs excited for big Pongal releases

In an open letter on FB that went viral, Aravinth Srinivas, a junior resident at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, said, “I am tired. We are all tired. Thousands of doctors like me are tired...We don’t have cameras in front of us. We don’t do stunt sequences. We aren’t heroes. But we deserve some time to breathe. The pandemic isn’t over and we have people dying… A hundred percent theatre occupancy is a suicide attempt...”

“Earlier, there was space between the seats to ensure that there was social distancing. Even then, I had noted that a few theatre-goers did not wear their masks and would not listen to the staff. I am against this move,” said a theatre-enthusiast from Choolaimedu. However, a movie buff said, “I want the energy of the crowd going wild when Vijay enters the frame. I will go for the first day first show screening of Master,” said Harish from Kottivakkam. One commenter said, “Go see T Nagar and Saravana Stores. Why didn’t you raise your voice when there were huge crowds in Ranganathan Street and in temples and mosques and churches? ”

However, Dr V Ashwin Karuppan, senior consultant, Internal Medicine, Gleneagles Global Health City, said, “This will cause a second spike in the city. Laughing or cheering, any aerosol-based transmission, is 50-60% more effective in closed spaces,” Public health expert Dr Prabhadeep Kaur from the National Institute of Epidemiology stated, “Closed spaces without social distancing are perfect settings for explosive spread of COVID.”

Regarding the GO, the Health Secretary said the Revenue Department were responsible the order and the Health Department will take up the issue with them.