Movie buffs, rejoice! You will get to catch your favourite movies on the silver screen again,from next week.

Senior minister (security cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob told a press briefing on COVID-19 related matters today, that all cinemas, theatres and live shows can resume operations from July 1 - provided they complied with strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

These include the patrons writing down their names and contact numbers and getting their temperatures checked before entering the enclosed spaces.

According to Ismail further, the maximum number of people allowed into the premises will also be capped at 250 at any given time.

This also would be subject to the size of the location.

Ismail also announced that from July 1 onwards, public swimming pools, as well as private ones at hotels, gated residences, condominiums and apartments, can reopen.

However, the crowd at such places must constantly be supervised to ensure it does not exceed the allowed number of people, he added.

Other water-related activities and rivers, lakes and the sea, can also resume operations from July, but water theme parks are still no go, for now.

Cinemas, as well as swimming pools, have been closed since the government enforced the Movement Control Order (MCO) last March 18, to contain the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 has so far infected 8,572 people, and killed 121, in Malaysia.

Globally, the infection and death tally from the disease has surpassed 9 million, and 470,000, respectively.


Photo source: Astro Awani