Hollywood was urged to halt 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 e-mail sent on December 24, released by FilmLA – the county’s nonprofit film agency – the health department encouraged industry contacts to stop work.
“While music, TV and film productions are allowed to operate, we ask that you seriously consider taking a break from work for a few weeks during this catastrophic increase in COVID cases,” the email said.
He advised filmmakers to ‘identify and delay high-risk activities and focus on low-risk work for now, if possible’.
In an e-mail sent on December 24, released by FilmLA – the county’s non-profit film office – the health department encouraged Hollywood filmmakers to pause production.
FilmLA was also asked to remind filmmakers that they are advised against traveling for production purposes during the crisis.
Although travel is permitted within California, it increases the likelihood that people will be together in a vehicle or in other indoor environments.
The e-mail highlighted the importance of new care for Los Angeles hospitals that were almost full, 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 Los Angeles’ Union Station – one of the city’s top coronavirus testing centers – according to The Hill.
FilmLA claimed that when it issued authorization for filming to be taken at the station, it had not realized that it was being used as a test site.
Many successful films were postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic, including the James Bond film ‘No Time to Die’, Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ and Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Antlers’.
Some films, like ‘Wonder Woman 1984’, were released during the pandemic, but were successful on streaming platforms, while cinemas in many countries around the world remain closed.
A sign reminiscent of social detachment is portrayed when people wearing masks pass on the set of the film ‘7th & Union’ during the coronavirus outbreak in California
The email came after The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) said that ‘most’ of the productions would be on hold until the third week of January, if not later.
“Most entertainment productions will remain on a hiatus until the second or third week of January, if not later,” said a statement from the labor group on Tuesday.
‘This means that the number of our performing members working on sets is now reduced. Our safety protocols ensure adequate precautions for the holiday hiatus, including additional testing time before resuming production. ‘
The statement followed news that the regional California home order has been extended as coronavirus cases continue to increase.
Some films, like ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ (pictured), were released during the pandemic, but were successful on streaming platforms, while cinemas in many countries around the world remain closed
The regions were previously defined to be released from December restrictions on December 28, but with the extension, they will remain in effect in the near future.
California has become the epicenter of the pandemic in recent weeks, with more than 24,000 virus-related deaths.
As of Tuesday, 31,245 new COVID-19 infections were reported, bringing the total number to 2.18 million.
Los Angeles saw almost 100,000 new cases in the past week alone, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Last week, the death toll reached record highs on consecutive days.
‘One person dies every 10 minutes in LA County due to COVID-19,’ said LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer of the death rate in the area.
Los Angeles County confirmed on Tuesday its highest number of reported hospitalizations in a day, in more than 7,000 people, with one in five in the ICU.
Los Angeles County confirmed on Tuesday its highest number of reported hospitalizations in a day, in more than 7,000 people, with one in five in the ICU
The daily number represented an increase of almost 1,000% over two months ago and more than three times the peak of a sudden increase in July, according to the county’s Department of Public Health.
The county also reported 227 new deaths, which include delays in holiday reports. In total, the county saw a total of 719,833 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 9,482 related deaths.
Funeral homes in Los Angeles also reported being so crowded with the victims of COVID-19 that they are struggling to find storage space, with one even renting a 52-foot refrigerated truck to handle the flow of bodies.
Los Angeles County, which is home to a quarter of California’s 40 million residents and has about 40 percent of deaths, has struggled with an increase that has led to repeated record cases, hospitalizations and deaths across the state.
Governor Gavin Newsom said on Monday that the state is setting up hospital beds in arenas, schools and tents, although it is struggling to get staff.
He said 96 percent of county hospitals were unable to accept ambulance patients at any time during the weekend, compared with 33 percent in periods prior to the operation.
And Ghaly said on Tuesday that the state is evaluating issues such as the availability and distribution of oxygen, as well as how to administer it to patients struggling to breathe.
County officials said on Monday that Moderna vaccines had been delivered to 59 nursing home facilities with plans to distribute 69,000 vaccines to employees and residents in more than 300 specialist health facilities by the end of the year.
Nursing units account for only 5 percent of the state’s COVID-19 cases, but 35 percent of deaths, said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, county director of public health.