Plans were being made to reopen cinemas that had been closed for more than a year and a half due to the COVID-19 disease, said Union Minister for Information Maung Maung Ohn.

He made the remarks at the handover ceremony of 13 state-owned cinemas between the Ministry of Information and the Yangon Region government on October 11.

"Artists are resuming filming in accordance with COVID-19 rules and are in talks to resume exhibitions in accordance with COVID-19 rules," Maung Maung Ohn added.

The ministry has ordered the temporary closure of cinemas from March 16, 2020, as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Myanmar since before the founding of COVID-19 confirmed patient in 2020.

The notice of order and directives to control COVID-19 virus issued to the public has been extended until October 31, announced the Central Committee on Prevention Control and Treatment of COVID-19 on September 30.

The statement added that the deadline has been extended to October 31, excluding the relaxation of the directives, issued by union level organizations and union ministries as there is a need to continue controlling the spread of COVID-19 virus.

Similarly, primary schools (including private and monastic schools) will be temporarily closed from September 27 to October 24 due to the need to continue to control the spread of COVID-19.