Hollywood has been urged to stop film production to help contain the Covid-19 outbreak in California, as more than 7,000 people (a record number) are hospitalized with the disease in Los Angeles.
In an email sent Dec. 24, distributed by FilmLA (the county’s nonprofit film office), the health department encouraged industry contacts to stop work.
“While music, television and film productions are allowed to operate, we urge you to firmly consider stopping work for a few weeks during this catastrophic increase in COVID cases,” the email said.
He advised filmmakers to “identify and delay higher-risk activities and, for now, focus on lower-risk work.”
In an email sent Dec. 24, distributed by FilmLA (the county’s nonprofit movie theater office), the health department encouraged Hollywood filmmakers to stop production
FilmLA was also asked to remind filmmakers that it is not advisable to travel for production purposes during the crisis.
While it is allowed to travel to California, it increases the likelihood that people will be together in a vehicle or in other enclosed environments.
The email stressed the importance of new precautions with Los Angeles hospitals near capacity, but added that there is a “light at the end of the tunnel” in the form of two approved vaccines being administered.
In early December, filming of a remake of the 1999 romantic comedy “She’s All That” closed Union Station in LA, one of the city’s leading coronavirus testing sites, according to The Hill.
FilmLA stated that when it issued permission for filming to take place at the station, it had not realized that it was being used as a test site.
Many successful films have been delayed in 2020 due to the pandemic, including James Bond’s upcoming film ‘No Time to Die’, Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ and Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Antlers’.
Some films, such as Wonder Woman 1984, have been released during the pandemic, but have found success on broadcast platforms while cinemas in many countries around the world remain closed.
Shows a sign reminiscent of social distancing as people with facial masks passed on the set of the movie ‘7th & Union’ during the outbreak of coronavirus disease in California
The email comes after The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) said most productions would be on hold until the third week of January, if not later.
“Most entertainment productions will remain shut down until the second or third week of January, if not later,” a statement from the workers’ group said on Tuesday.
‘That means the number of artist members working in ensembles right now is shrinking. Our safety protocols ensure proper precautions for the holiday break period, including additional time for testing before production resumes. “
The statement followed the news that the regional order to stay at home in California expanded as coronavirus cases continue to rise.
Some films, such as Wonder Woman 1984 (pictured), have been released during the pandemic, but have found success on streaming platforms as cinemas in many countries around the world remain closed.
The regions had previously been released from the December restrictions on December 28, but with the extension, they will 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, totaling 2.18 million.
Los Angeles has seen nearly 100,000 new cases in the past week alone, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Last week, the death toll reached record highs in consecutive days.
“Now one person dies every 10 minutes in LA County because of COVID-19,” LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said of the death rate in the area.
Los Angeles County on Tuesday confirmed the highest number of hospitalizations reported in a day, with more than 7,000 people, with one in five in the ICU.
Los Angeles County on Tuesday confirmed the highest number of hospitalizations recorded in a day, with more than 7,000 people, with one in five in the ICU
The daily figure was nearly a 1,000 percent increase from two months ago and more than triple the peak of a July hike, according to the county’s public health department.
The county also reported 227 new deaths, which included a delay in vacation reports. In all, the county has recorded a total of 719,833 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 9,482 related deaths.
Los Angeles funeral homes also reported being so crowded with COVID-19 victims struggling to find storage space, even one rented a 52-foot refrigerated truck to deal with the influx of bodies.
Los Angeles County, which is home to a quarter of California’s 40 million residents and has about 40 percent of its deaths, has struggled with an increase that has led to repeated record cases, hospitalizations and dead statewide.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that the state is installing hospital beds in sandboxes, schools and tents, although it is struggling to staff them.
He said 96 percent of county hospitals were unable to accept ambulance patients at some point over the weekend, compared to 33 percent in times before the surge.
And Ghaly said Tuesday that the state is evaluating issues such as the availability and supply of oxygen, as well as how to administer it to patients struggling to breathe.
County officials said Monday that Modern vaccines were delivered to 59 nursing home centers with plans to deploy 69,000 vaccines to staff and residents of more than 300 qualified nursing homes by the end of the year.
Nursing facilities account for only 5% of the state’s COVID-19 cases, but 35% of their deaths, said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the county’s director of public health.