Hollywood has been urged to halt film production to stem the Covid-19 outbreak in California, as more than 7,000 people – a record number – are hospitalized with the disease in Los Angeles.
In a Dec. 24 email distributed by FilmLA – the county’s nonprofit film office – the health department encouraged industry contacts to pause the work.
“While music, TV and film productions may be performed, we strongly urge you to consider pausing work for a few weeks during this catastrophic increase in COVID cases,” the email said.
It advised filmmakers to identify and delay higher-risk activities and, if possible, focus on lower-risk work for the time being. ‘
In a Dec. 24 email distributed by FilmLA – the county’s nonprofit film office – the health department encouraged Hollywood filmmakers to pause productions
FilmLA was also asked to remind filmmakers not to travel for production purposes during the crisis.
While travel is permitted within California, it increases the likelihood that people will be together in a vehicle or in another enclosed indoor environment.
The email stressed the importance of the new precautions with Los Angeles hospitals nearly full, but added that there is a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ in the form of two approved vaccines being administered.
Earlier in December, LA’s Union Station – one of the main coronavirus testing sites in the city – was shut down by a remake of the 1999 romantic comedy ‘She’s All That’, according to The Hill.
FilmLA claimed that when it issued the permit for filming at the station, it had not realized it was being used as a test location.
Many blockbuster movies have been delayed in 2020 due to the pandemic, including the upcoming James Bond movie ‘No Time to Die’, Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ and Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Antlers’.
Some movies, such as ‘Wonder Woman 1984’, were released during the pandemic but have found success on streaming platforms, while movie theaters remain closed in many countries around the world.
A sign reminiscent of social aloofness is depicted as people in face masks drive past on the set of the movie ‘7th & Union’ during the outbreak of California coronavirus disease
The email comes after The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) said that ‘most’ productions would be on hold until the third week of January, if not later.
“Most entertainment productions remain on hiatus until the second or third week of January, if not later,” a statement by the working group said Tuesday.
This means that the number of our member artists currently working on sets will be reduced. Our safety protocols ensure appropriate precautions for the holiday season, including additional testing time before resuming production. ‘
The statement followed news that the regional stay-at-home order in California was extended as coronavirus cases continue to increase.
Some movies, such as ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ (pictured) were released during the pandemic but have been successful on streaming platforms, while cinemas remain closed in many countries around the world.
Previously, the regions were exempt from the December restrictions on December 28, but with the extension, they now remain in place for the foreseeable future.
California has become the epicenter of the pandemic in recent weeks with more than 24,000 virus-related deaths.
On Tuesday, 31,245 new COVID-19 infections were reported, bringing the total to 2.18 million.
In the past week alone, Los Angeles has seen nearly 100,000 new cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Last week, the death toll hit record highs on consecutive days.
“Now one person in LA County dies from COVID-19 every 10 minutes,” said Barbara Ferrer, LA County’s director of health, of the number of deaths in the area.
Los Angeles County confirmed the highest number of hospital admissions per day on Tuesday, with more than 7,000 people, with one in five in the ICU.
Los Angeles County confirmed the highest number of hospital admissions per day on Tuesday, with more than 7,000 people, with one in five in the ICU
The daily figure was nearly 1,000 percent more than two months ago and more than three times the peak of an increase in July, according to the provincial health ministry.
The county also reported 227 new deaths, including a backlog due to delays in vacation reporting. In all, the county has seen a total of 719,833 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 9,482 related deaths.
Funeral homes in Los Angeles also reported getting so busy with COVID-19 victims that they are struggling to find storage space, with someone even renting out a 52-foot refrigerated truck to accommodate the influx of bodies.
Los Angeles County, home to a quarter of California’s 40 million residents and about 40 percent of deaths, is experiencing a wave that has led to repeat record-breaking cases, hospitalizations, and deaths statewide.
Governor Gavin Newsom said on Monday that the state is setting up hospital beds in arenas, schools and tents there, although it is struggling to staff them.
He said 96 percent of hospitals in the province were unable to receive patients by ambulance at some point during the weekend, compared with 33 percent in times before the peak.
And Ghaly said on Tuesday that the state is assessing issues such as the availability and delivery of oxygen and how to administer it to patients who have difficulty breathing.
County officials said on Monday that Moderna vaccines were being delivered to 59 nursing home institutions with plans to deploy 69,000 vaccines to staff and residents in more than 300 skilled nursing homes by the end of the year.
Nursing centers account for only 5 percent of COVID-19 cases in the state, but 35 percent of deaths, said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the province’s director of public health.