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<ul><li>Dulam Satyanarayana, a popular documentary filmmaker has captured an aerial view of Hyderabad during the lockdown.</li><li>The images show iconic structures like the Charminar, Legislative Assembly, Mecca Masjid and more.</li></ul>Amidst the ongoing nationwide lockdown, Dulam Satyanarayana, a documentary filmmaker was roped in by the Telangana government to capture the beauty of Hyderabad, the city of Nizams and capital of the youngest Indian state. K. T. Rama Rao, the Minister of IT, Telangana posted the aerial view of the city showing empty roads, the iconic Charminar, Hussain Sagar, rows of trains at the Hyderabad railway station, the outer ring road and more. Here are some of the best aerial pictures of Hyderabad showing the city’s beauty during the lockdown. Charminar <div type="image" title="Charminar" msid="75058448" hostid="261"></div> The first picture is of Charminar, which is one the iconic buildings in the city. Charminar which is usually jam-packed is seen sporting a deserted look due to the lockdown. Hussain Sagar <div type="image" title="Hussain Sagar" msid="75058454" hostid="261"></div> Hussain Sagar lake, which is commonly known as Tank Bund is a heart-shaped lake that was built in 1563. The Gautama Buddha statue stands on the Gibraltar Rock in the middle of the lake. Hyderabad Railway station <div type="image" title="Hyderabad railway station" msid="75058459" hostid="261"></div> The Hyderabad Railway Station, also known as Nampally Railway Station was opened in 1907. The picture shows several trains parked as the railway station and nearby roads wear a deserted look. Mecca Masjid <div type="image" title="Mecca Masjid" msid="75058478" hostid="261"></div> Mecca Masjid, which has a capacity of over 20,000 people wears a deserted look as it has been closed due to the lockdown. It was opened in 1694 and is situated in the old city near Charminar. Necklace Road <div type="image" title="Necklace Road" msid="75058490" hostid="261"></div> The Necklace Road is a large road adjoining the Hussain Sagar Lake. The road from Sanjeevaiah park connects to the Tank Bund road which in turn connects to the NTR Gardens completing a circle and looks like a ‘necklace’ from the sky. Nehru Outer Ring Road <div type="image" title="Nehru ORR" msid="75058503" hostid="261"></div> The Nehru Outer Ring Road is a 158-kilometer 8-lane ring road expressway that encircles Hyderabad. It was opened in 2005 to solve the traffic problem and provide orbital linkage to arterial roads. PVNR Expressway <div type="image" title="PVNR" msid="75058505" hostid="261"></div> The P V Narasimha Rao Expressway is a 11.6-kilometer long elevated road that was opened in 2009. It connects the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport with Mehdipatnam. Telangana Legislative Assembly <div type="image" title="Telangana legislative assembly" msid="75058511" hostid="261"></div> The Telangana Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Telangana legislature. It took 8 years to build and was completed in 1913. It houses 119 MLAs of the state. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/a-leaked-video-of-indian-prime-minister-narendra-modis-clearly-shows-lockdown-will-be-extended/articleshow/75047512.cms">A leaked video of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi clearly shows lockdown will be extended</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/these-pictures-show-how-india-spent-day-1-of-the-nation-wide-lockdown/articleshow/74813040.cms">These pictures show how India spent day 1 of the nation-wide lockdown</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/here-are-the-potential-coronavirus-treatments-that-india-and-other-countries-are-banking-on/articleshow/75043987.cms">Here are the potential Coronavirus treatments that India and other countries are banking on</a>

Hyderabad lockdown pictures reveal its old-world charm and new age vibrancy

From Delhi to Nagpur to Hyderabad ⁠— pictures of people visiting malls and religious places as India slowly reopens

<ul><li><keyword id="10049960" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ramu-dosapati">Ramu Dosapati</keyword>, an HR executive in a corporate firm, has been running a ‘<keyword id="9060220" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="rice-atm">Rice ATM</keyword>’ – a 24X7 supply of rice and other rations for the needy in Hyderabad since April 2020.</li><li>Over the months, Dosapati claims to have spent almost ₹50 lakh out of his own pocket. </li><li>From <keyword id="91743" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="lockdown">lockdown</keyword> days to during Hyderabad floods, Dosapati has been helping out the needy in the city.</li></ul>In the gruelling months of the <keyword id="8637077" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coronavirus-lockdown">coronavirus lockdown</keyword> earlier this year, several stories of migrant workers and the poor being stranded without jobs and money emerged. This also led to the emergence of stories of Sonu Sood and the likes – the real heroes who went out of their way to help people out. And in the southern state of Telangana’s capital city Hyderabad, one such story is that of Ramu Dosapati. Dosapati, an HR executive in a corporate firm, has been running a ‘Rice ATM’ – a 24X7 supply of rice and other rations for the needy in Hyderabad since April, 2020. Over the months, Dosapati claims to have spent almost ₹50 lakh out of his own pocket and has no intentions of claiming it back. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[]]></cdata></div> How it all started Just about a month into lockdown, Dosapati’s younger son wanted to have chicken for his birthday. Dosapati went to the nearest shop to buy chicken, only to find a security guard buying chicken for ₹2000. “I was quite surprised as to why this lady is buying so much chicken. When I asked her I got to know she was buying it as a treat for migrant workers sheltered nearby, who had run out of food. When I asked her about her salary, she said it was ₹6,000. That made me think that if a lady with ₹6,000 salary can spend ₹2,000 on the needy, why can’t I do the same?,” Dosapati told Business Insider. In the next few days, Dosapati got to work. He went with the security guard to the place where the migrant workers were and made a list of 192 people who needed ration and other necessary items. “There were people who wanted to go back to their hometowns by walking over 400-500 kms, I asked them to stay back and told them I would help them out,” he said. <div type="image" title="IMG-20201221-WA0007" msid="79851891" hostid="261"></div> He started out an initial ₹1,50,000 from his savings to feed the needy. But the amount could only result in ration for a few days. And as the word spread about the Rice ATM, more and more people came forward asking for help. “Then I went to the local kirana store owner and requested him to lend out ration on my word. I broke my provident fund and showed him the receipt for the same, assuring him that the money would come to me and I would pay him,” he said. Giving up his 3 BHK dream to feed the needy Dosapati, who currently lives in a 1 BHK with his wife and two sons, also wanted a bigger 3 BHK. “My sons have been fighting for a long time as they want separate rooms,” Dosapati tells us. He had even selected a 3 BHK and sold land in his ancestral village for ₹38.5 lakh. But one morning at 6 am, his apartment guard woke him up saying about 50-60 people had gathered outside and wanted to meet him. The word about ‘Rice ATM’ kept spreading and people wanted help. “That’s when my wife supported me and asked me to go ahead and carry on with the initiative,” he said. He gave up on the 3BHK house and instead directed the money to helping out more people, even when floods struck Hyderabad. Over time, there has been an outpouring of support from other groups and people to help his initiative, which Dosapati vets before taking any help. It’s been over 250 days since Dosapati has been running this initiative, and for now there’s stopping him. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/google-microsoft-invest-in-dailyhunt-for-its-short-video-platform-josh-making-it-the-latest-unicorn-in-india/articleshow/79850804.cms">Google, Microsoft invest in DailyHunt for its short video platform Josh – making it the latest unicorn in India</a>

This man spent almost ₹50 lakh, let go of his 3BHK dream to run a ‘Rice ATM’ for the needy in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Apr 14 () A self haircut would have beenbeyond the skillset of most people but no longer is it sounder the COVID-19 lockdown.Making a virtue out of necessity is coming true with manyexperimenting hairdressing on their own as saloons are out ofbounds for nearly a month now in view of the shutdown to checkspread of coronavirus.Saloons in Telangana like elsewhere are closed since thethird week of last month in view of the lockdown, which hasnow been extended by the state government till April 30 and bythe Centre till May 3 keeping in view the grim situation. "My 10-year old son was in urgent need of hair cut. Idecided to cut his long hair myself at home. It may not be aperfect job, but I was able to handle it to acceptable level,said Mahendar Noogooria, a journalist with a vernavular dailyhere. Several netizens also shared pictures and videos of theirskills with a pair of scissors. Fareed Ahmed, a 35-year-old IT professional and wildlifephotographer, said he tried to cut his hair by himself andended up leaving it in a mess. "Finally, my father came to my rescue, took a trimmer andreshaped it," he said.Prabhakar Kumar, a self-employed from Anand Nagar, tookupon the job of haircut for himself and also for his two-year-old son. "In view of summer it was getting irritating for my sonwhose hair had grown and covered his ears. I took out mytrimmer and did hair cut not only for my son but also formyself. My son liked it and gave a smile after the "perfect"haircut," Kumar said.But, not all want to take the scissor themselves andthere have been instances of people sacrificing their Frenchbeard like Sravan Kumar, a 35-year old musician. I used to get it trimmed every week. Some days ago Itried to do it myself, but couldnt. So I completely removedit. I will trim it once the lockdown is over, Kumar saidsmearing his smooth cheeks. On the other side, the barber community has been hit hardthough they admit they cannot afford to work considering theirown safety and that of their customers. Working President of Telangana Nayee Brahmin Aikya Vedika,the apex body of barbers in the state, Hari Prasad said theassociation members were following the government orders ascompliance was necessary to contain spread of the coronavirus. It will be dangerous for all of us as we will have tohandle people from all walks of life. Hair cutting or shavingis done with close proximity of the customer. We will beservicing several customers a day. So it is not advisable toopen shops at this juncture and do our job," he told . According to him, if salons are kept open there is achance that people with travel history might also come. "Thats why we asked our community members to follow thelockdown procedure, he added. Association president Maddikunta Lingam Nayee said about15 lakh members of the community in the haircutting professionneed government support as they are losing livelihood fornearly 40 days. He also requested the government to waive power bills forsalons besides extending financial support to them to overcomethe present situation. Admitting that there were cases of violations by somebarbers who keep open their shops, he appealed to the policenot to file cases against such people and create awarenessamong them. The situation is same with chain of saloons run by famoushair stylist Jawed Habib in the city with the franchisees shutin view of the lockdown. When contacted, an executive in the call centre of thegroup said they were not taking any appointments till thelockdown is over. GDK VVKVS VS

Lockdown woes: Need haircut? Do it yourself or wait

Hyderabad, Apr 12 (): Indicating that prolongedlockdown to contain coronavirus spread may lead to job cuts inthe Indian IT industry, NASSCOM former president RChandrashekhar has said that the work-from-home culture maybecome a positive development in the long run as it opens upnewer avenues and save investments by IT firms.The former bureaucrat also said startups which aresurviving on funds infused by venture capitalists may facetougher situations if the present scenario deteriorates."The larger companies may not be actually cutting jobsfor two reasons.One is that they do not want to lose their employees andthey have money to pay.Many of them ( big companies), even if they do shed somejobs it might be at the most people who are on temporary orintern type and all.But they would not want regular and permanent employeesto go. So as long as they have sufficient flexibility in theirbooks, they would continue.But beyond a point that it goes on, for let us say, twomonths or three months, then even for them, they will feel thepressure. They may not just keep on providing subsidies to theemployees.So the key question will be how long that goes on,Chandrasekhar told . He said the work-from-home systems being adopted byseveral firms across the globe, including India, may have anegative impact on the industry in the short-term, but in thelong run it would change the work culture which hitherto wasnot experienced by many of the IT firms in India.According to him, the work-from-home, in the long runresults in savings in terms of employee productivity,logistics cost and office space.He said client companies offering contracts to Indian ITfirms, which are also undergoing similar experiences, may notobject to work remotely."Human behaviour (adapting work-from-home culture)changing is not easy. This coronavirus has forced us to change faster thanwe were changing, Chandrashekhar said.On impact of the prolonged lockdown on startups, he saidit would be a big challenge for the budding enterprises as theinvestments they get are based on their ideas and futurerevenues and the present situation under which peoplesmovement is curbed may shackle their progress."Where will they (startups) get money to pay salaries totheir employees.Venture capital investors would not pay the money orinvest their money to pay salaries because they are not in thecharity business. If the employees are not paid and if they leave andit is difficult for the startup againto come up. So the wholeinvestment plan goes for a toss, he said.Founder of a mid-sized IT firm said the job cut in the ITindustry is inevitable even for bigger firms if the presentsituation across the globe continues for a few more months.Former chairman of NASSCOM, B V R Mohan Reddy said aclear picture as to what is going to happen has not yetemerged as the situation with all respects is still evolving.Reddy said there will be a demand shrinkage for the ITindustry as the entire world is under stress."There is no economy in this world that is going to dowell in this situation. All of them are in some form of stress. So, therefore, there will be a demand shrinkage, hesaid, indicating tougher times of the industry ahead. GDKAPRRAVINDRANATH GDKAPRRAVINDRANATH

Prolonged lockdown may result in job cuts in IT industry- Fmr NASSCOM prez

Hyderabad, April 27 (): About 50 Telugu movies invarious stages of making with an investment of approximatelyRs 600 crore have been stalled due to the ongoing lockdown tocontain coronavirus spread, according to C Kalyan, Presidentof Telugu Film Producers Council.Chiranjeevi starrer 'Aacharya' and 'Baahubali'maker SS Rajamoulis 'RRR' are among the movies whoseproduction has been suspended in various stages.Describing it as a big blow to the industry,senior producer and Ramanaidu Studios owner D Suresh saidthough all his films are insured to cover delay in production,he is not sure whether this pandemic would be accepted by theinsurance companies for staking any claim."We are not in a position to estimate the lossesto the Telugu film industry due to lockdown. Because we have no clear picture as to when theproductions will be resumed, when the movies will be taken tomasses. Currently, guessing the future of the film industryis million dollar questions," Kalyan told .According to him, the Telugu film industry, knownas "Tollywood", makes nearly 200 movies every year and out ofwhich about seven per cent movies make good profit.Kalyan said out of the 200 films, about 60 arebudgeted at Rs 3 crore and below and movies like Baahubali andRRR have changed the landscape of the industry."About 50 movies including 15 to 20 big ticketones are currently under various stages of production. These movies have already seen investments to thetune of Rs 600 to Rs 700 crore.We do not know when theproduction would resume," he said.Suresh anticipates the uncertainty would continuefor some more time even if the lockdown is lifted as it is notclear when the movie screens will be thrown open for thepublic."So it could be as good as the complete financialyear being washed off for the film calendar.The loss would bequite substantial," Suresh said.As of now four of Suresh's movies are currentlyin various stages of production and three are ready to go onfloor.He said though he has insurance coverage for hismovies he was not sure if the pandemic clause can beapplicable for loss caused due to the delay in production."We have never faced this kind of situation inthe past.We do not know how the insurance companies wouldreact if we make a claim," he added.The ace producer said though banks have announceda three month moratorium on repayment of loans, it needs to beextended as it takes a longer period for the situation tobecome normal.Veteran producer and directorTammareddyBharadwaj,who is regarded as the leaderof the semi-skilledand skilled workers of theindustry, said the situation maypush about eight thousand people of different skill sets whodepend on movie making to lose their livelihood."Situation is so fluid that nobody could guesswhat is going to happen post-lockdown. At least 50 per cent of the 16,000 workforce of theTelugu film industry may have to look out for other jobs,"Bharadwaj said.Pulagam Chinnarayana, a film critic, saidpost-lockdown, the industry may witness sea changes withimposition of restrictions at public places including movietheatres and at outdoor shoots resulting in loss of employmentfor many. GDK BNWELCOME BNWELCOME

Work on Telugu films with Rs 600 Cr investment stalled due to COVID-19  lockdown

Hyderabad, June 21 () The international yoga day was observed in a low key manner in Telangana in view of the COVID-19 restrictions with people performing 'asanas' at their homes. Minister of Prohibition and Excise, Finance Minister T Harish Rao, Government Chief Whip Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar among others performed yoga asanas and later posted pictures and videos of their sessions on social media platforms. Harish Rao and Panchayat Raj Minister E Dayakar Rao extended their greetings to people on the occassion and said "yoga should be part of everyone's life to lead a healthy life." BJP Telangana organised yoga programme at its office here where state President and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar, BJP MLC N Ramchander Rao, and others performed various asanas. International Yoga Day was celebrated at the Telangana State Institute of Correctional Administration here with the staff along with newly recruited trainees participated in the event by taking all safety measures duly following physical distance and wearing masks in view of COVID-19, an official release said. English and Foreign LanguagesUniversity (EFLU) Vice Chancellor Prof E Suresh Kumar led the University to join 'Yoga Online,' in view of physicaldistance norms due to COVID-19. A release from EFLU said the Vice Chancellor and the members of faculty joinedvirtually in performing Functional Yoga which intended to strengthen lungs in combatting thecoronavirus. The 'Yoga Online' brought together all the faculty to join the online platform includingthe members of faculty of the University's Regional Campuses at Shillong and Lucknow, it said. The day which is otherwise marked with yoga sessions and various events at parks and other places every year with participation from yoga and health enthusiasts performing asanas was celebrated on low key manner amidst the COVID-19 lockdown. VVK ROH ROH

T'gana observes low key International Yoga Day due to COVID-19

<ul><li>Indian government launched the Aarogya Setu IVRS helpline number in Tamil Nadu as a pilot.</li><li>The helpline is expected to help over 600 million users who do not have smartphones.</li><li>The Aarogya Setu IVRS helpline will be available in other states in the coming days.</li></ul>After launching the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/how-to/indian-government-launches-app-to-track-coronavirus-patients-called-aarogya-setu/articleshow/74949415.cms">Aarogya Setu app</a> to help users stay safe from the Coronavirus pandemic in the country, the Indian government announced a pilot for the Aarogya Setu Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) helpline in Tamil Nadu. The Aarogya Setu IVRS or IVRS COVID-19 helpline was launched by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Prasad said that it is an initiative by the government of India and Tamil Nadu government. <keyword id="9029651" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="aarogya-setu-helpline">Aarogya Setu helpline</keyword> will benefit over 600 million people While the Aarogya Setu app crossed 3 million downloads soon after it was released, the IVRS helpline has been launched for users who do not have a smartphone to access the app. The app and helpline will complement each other. According to the latest TRAI numbers, there are over 1,159 million mobile users in India and out of this, around 500 million are smartphones users. This leaves out over 600 million feature phone users who cannot install the Aarogya Setu app. Aarogya Setu IVRS helpline to be launched soon in other states While the Aarogya Setu IVRS helpline is currently available only in Tamil Nadu, it will soon be launched in other states as well. It has been launched as a pilot project and should be available across the country in the coming days. The Aarogya Setu IVRS helpline number is – 9499912345. How to use Aarogya Setu IVRS helpline number? To use the Aarogya Setu IVRS helpline, all you need to do is give a missed call to the number – 9499912345 and provide your location. You will then be provided with options for assistance, healthcare and guidance. It will likely provide similar features as the Aarogya Setu app. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/how-to/indian-government-launches-app-to-track-coronavirus-patients-called-aarogya-setu/articleshow/74949415.cms">Coronavirus tracking app Aarogya Setu crosses 30 lakh downloads, here's how to use it</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/hyderabad-lockdown-pictures-reveal-its-old-world-charm-and-new-age-vibrancy/articleshow/75058458.cms">Hyderabad lockdown pictures reveal its old-world charm and new age vibrancy</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/odisha-cm-naveen-patnaik-officially-announces-coronavirus-lockdown-until-april-30/articleshow/75061189.cms">Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik officially announces coronavirus lockdown until April 30</a>

Indian government launches Aarogya Setu IVRS helpline to assist users without smartphones

AP Photo/Matt SlocumChildren wave to the Easter Bunny, during a parade with the Oakmont Fire Company, Friday, April 10, 2020, in Haverford, Pennsylvania.<ul class="summary-list"><li>Religious leaders around the world are encouraging people to celebrate Easter and Passover at home this year, maintaining physical distance from others, to stop the spread of the coronavirus.</li><li>In Kentucky, the governor says anyone who does not stay home and instead goes to church this weekend will be subject to a 14-day self-quarantine.</li><li>Religious gatherings have already been tied to several deadly coronavirus outbreaks around the world, from Kentucky to South Korea.</li><li>The coronavirus spreads through respiratory droplets, which are easily shared by people sitting near each other at church.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>Faith leaders around the world are encouraging their congregations to stay home this weekend, recommending people celebrate Easter and Passover virtually during the coronavirus pandemic. "I want to encourage you to meet together separately this Sunday, to remind you that on that first Easter Jesus came to people behind locked doors," Chris Michael, pastor of the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Owensboro, Kentucky, <a href="https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&amp;prId=122">said on Friday</a>. "He will come to you as well."Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said that anyone in his state who goes to church this weekend, in violation of the state's <a href="https://governor.ky.gov/attachments/20200325_Executive-Order_2020-257_Healthy-at-Home.pdf">stay-at-home order,</a> will be subject to a 14-day mandatory self-quarantine.State police will be recording the license plates of any cars seen at gatherings, then contacting the people who are associated with those cars and notifying them of the two-week rule. "This is the only way we can ensure that your decision doesn't kill someone else," Beshear said. "What we're asking is for you to love your neighbor as yourself."Beshear said state officials are aware of about half a dozen churches that are planning to hold services this weekend, in spite of Kentucky's state of emergency order.Faith gatherings have been linked to several deadly coronavirus outbreaks around the world already.In Kentucky, a single church gathering in mid-March was linked to 54 coronavirus cases in that state, and <a href="https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&amp;prId=121">six deaths</a> so far.In South Korea, a single doomsday church in the city of Daegu was tied to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korea-tests-every-shincheonji-cult-member-coronavirus-outbreak-2020-2">majority of that country's COVID-19 cases</a> in February.And last month in Washington, a two and a half hour church choir practice, where singers kept a safe distance while they sang, sickened at least 45 people with coronavirus symptoms, the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-29/coronavirus-choir-outbreak">Los Angeles Times</a> reported. Two of those singers are now dead. <h2>The World Health Organization recommends congregations meet virtually</h2>Because the novel coronavirus is spread mainly through close contact between individuals, the most effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19 in a community is to keep its people apart.AP Photo/Damian DovarganesRev. Nicolas Sanchez smiles as he holds his iPhone, used to communicate with the parishioners of his congregation, who sent their pictures to decorate the pews at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Los Angeles on Friday, April 10, 2020.The World Health Organization released <a href="https://www.who.int/publications-detail/practical-considerations-and-recommendations-for-religious-leaders-and-faith-based-communities-in-the-context-of-covid-19">new guidance</a> Thursday suggesting the faithful should avoid large gatherings, and instead of heading to churches, synagogues, and mosques, conduct "rituals and faith-related activities remotely/virtually." At the Vatican, Pope Francis will preside over Easter mass <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-04/celebrating-a-unique-easter-with-pope-francis-during-covid-19.html">without a congregation</a> on Sunday.Instead of meeting up in person, many Jews also celebrated the beginning of Passover this past week with virtual Seders, sharing family <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/year-jerusalem-year-zoom/story?id=70065044">meals over screens</a>.AP Photo/Mahesh KumarArchbishop of Hyderabad Tumma Bala, along with other priests, distributes food to the poor on Good Friday, during a lockdown to control the spread of the new coronavirus in Hyderabad, India, Friday, April 10, 2020.Where religious gatherings are planned, the WHO suggests holding them outside, if possible, and always maintaining at least three feet of distance between people, avoiding any of the usual close contact that might be part of services (like handshakes and hugs), and refraining from kissing or touching any devotional objects.Almost all Americans are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-map-stay-at-home-orders-lockdowns-2020-3">under some form of lockdown</a> this week, to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, as public health experts have stressed that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/surgeon-general-upcoming-week-like-911-and-pearl-harbor-2020-4">this will likely be one of the most deadly and virulent</a> weeks for the coronavirus across the country.On Friday, the US logged more than <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-2000-coronavirus-deaths-one-day-first-reach-depressing-landmark-2020-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">2,000 coronavirus deaths</a>, the highest number of COVID-19 fatalities any country has recorded in a single day. That same day, President Trump announced that he'll be <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-effort-to-reopen-the-country-could-backfire-2020-4">starting up a new task force next week</a>, dedicated to re-opening the country.Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email <a href="mailto:covidtips@businessinsider.com">covidtips@businessinsider.com</a> and tell us your story.Get the latest <a href="/coronavirus-business-impact">coronavirus business &amp; economic impact analysis</a> from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/online-school-learning-teachers-chabad-jewish-nigri-2020-4">A group of Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn became experts in online learning before the coronavirus. Now educators are seeking their help.</a></h3>

Kentucky is requiring 14 days quarantine for Easter mass attendees who do not stay home from church

<ul><li>The last 19 months have been difficult for the movie and events industry. However, with <keyword id="6584707" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cinema-halls" source="Orion">cinema halls</keyword> opening up across the country and live events also slowly starting, things are finally looking up.</li><li><keyword id="277892" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ashish-saksena" source="Orion">Ashish Saksena</keyword>, COO - Cinemas and <keyword id="5147613" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="anil-makhija" source="Orion">Anil Makhija</keyword>, COO – Live <keyword id="4578" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="entertainment" source="Orion">Entertainment</keyword> &amp; Venues, <keyword id="600792" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bookmyshow" source="Orion">BookMyShow</keyword> talk to us about the kind of revival they have been witnessing on the platform and tell us why they are hopeful for a healthy revival in 2022.</li></ul>The year has almost come to an end and what a year of ups and downs it has been. However, things are slowly moving towards normalcy and we couldn’t be more thankful. One thing that is making things feel normal or somewhat close to normal again is the opening up of cinema halls. There has been a lot of pent up demand with people just tired of being stuck at their homes so this has been a welcome change. More and more people want to get back to watching movies on the big screen and the numbers are showing. Recent big-ticket releases like Akshay Kumar-starrer <keyword id="7188379" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sooryavanshi" source="Orion">Sooryavanshi</keyword>, Rajnikanth’s Annaatthe, Marvel’s Eternals, Dulquer Salmaan’s <keyword id="268517" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kurup" source="Orion">Kurup</keyword> and most recently the latest Spiderman movie, <keyword id="10823072" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="spider-man-no-way-home" source="Orion">Spider-Man No Way Home</keyword> have led to a surge of people wanting to book tickets on online ticketing platforms. So we wanted to know what kind of revival online booking platforms like BookMyShow (BMS) are witnessing. And we got some answers from Ashish Saksena, COO - Cinemas, BMS and Anil Makhija, COO – Live Entertainment &amp; Venues, BMS and what both painted a picture of hope for cinemas, events as well as online platforms in 2022. Bringing people back to cinemas and events With cinemas across all states in India finally opening, there is a lot of optimism about this quarter kick-starting the recovery cycle for cinemas, audiences and the industry as a whole. BookMyShow witnessed a hockey stick growth in user engagement, traffic and transactions nearing pre-covid levels on the platform within just the first ten days of cinemas opening up. “Within the first 10 days of the movies releasing pan-India, daily consumer traffic surged to 76% of pre-Covid levels on an average while user engagement has been steadily rising the charts, already surpassing 66% of pre-covid levels on BookMyShow,” shared Saksena. Consumers from Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad have been quickest to return back to the movies contributing, 48% of the traffic recovery. To encourage people to come back to the big screen, BMS has been running a six-month-long campaign #CinemaIsBack that it has conceptualised and executed in-house team. “The campaign aims at targeting entertainment-lovers across age groups, geographic restrictions notwithstanding and social setups through various social media platforms, with the spotlight on the all-new out-of-home movie entertainment experience - different but not a shred less than earlier! It is a visual, socially engaging and meme-based series executed on digital and social media and will be amplified across BMS’s customer base and potential new audiences both on the platform’s mobile app and website through mailers, push notifications along with social media platforms as also digital media to engage audiences through relevant video, visual and timely content,” added Saksena. <div type="image" title="#CinemaIsBack_BookMyShow" msid="88342145" hostid="261"></div> BMS is also going to onboard brand advocates to highlight the safety measures being undertaken at the cinemas. It is also working with partners across industries including Amazon, ixigo and MyGlamm to curate special offers and discounts for its transactors through the festive season. Apart from movie tickets, BMS also sells tickets for other experiences and events too. So is the enthusiasm to those offerings encouraging too? “There is a definitive rise in demand across cities. However, the format of events (stand-up comedy, music concerts, festivals &amp; performances) will gravitate towards smaller-capacity ones (bars, restaurants, clubs) where Covid safety protocols can be implemented seamlessly. The pent-up demand for these events led to an average occupancy of 70% for an event with the 50% capacity guidelines, as permitted by the government. The capacity of these events typically ranges between 200-3000 attendees depending on the venue. We believe that audiences are elated to be back enjoying their favourite entertainment experiences thus providing some semblance of the pre-Covid live entertainment scenario. Currently, comedy, live music concerts and artist performances as well as regional theatre are amongst the most preferred and transacted events on BookMyShow,” explained Makhija. The response from smaller cities has been encouraging too and if the situation improves from where they stand today, both Makhija and Saksena are hopeful that the Tier II and III cities will contribute to the platform’s growth next year. Marketing during the pandemic While live events and cinemas were completely shut during the lockdown months, it was important for the platform to maintain its connect with its consumers. Apart from the #CinemaIsBack campaign, the strategy was also to keep talking to its audience. Speaking about its marketing strategy, Saksena said, “With an all-new integrated booking flow, keeping in mind the SOPs mandated by the government, and our #CinemaIsBack campaign across digital and social media, our focus has been on educating the consumers about the safety precautions undertaken by various partners across the industry while rekindling the memory and magic of the movie experience on the big screen with popcorns and beverages in tow. On social media, we have been engaging with our consumers through quirky, fun, nostalgic contextual posts and contests, providing an exhaustive collection of information, which in turn has been enabling consumers to make a well-informed decision even before they step out of their homes. As newer and newer content kicks in, we will expand our social media outreach, making it an all-encompassing programme with offers, contests and influencer marketing kicking in our brand ambassador initiative outlined earlier.” The way forward With cinemas opening in India and production houses announcing a line ups of big budget movies across languages and genres since the festive season this year, BMS anticipates the road to recovery to be smooth in 2022. “Over the next few months, we look forward to welcoming film enthusiasts and cinephiles #BackToTheatres for a safe entertainment experience through the festive season and beyond. Buoyed by the initial response to cinemas over the last month and given the staggering number of film titles set for release in December through Christmas and New Year, we believe we can expect strong growth from cinemas in the short-term itself. As far as live events go, globally countries like USA and UK have gone back to pre-covid levels and we are expecting a similar compelling return for live entertainment through 2022-23. The pace at which the country’s vaccination drive is progressing reposes confidence that the stage has been set for a long-impending revival of the entertainment business in India with all the standard safety protocols in place,” concluded Saksena.

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