Hollywood has been urged to stop film production to help curb 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, broadcast by FilmLA – the county’s non-profit film office – the health department encouraged contacts in the industry to stop working.
“Although music, television and film productions are allowed to operate, please consider discontinuing the business for a few weeks during this catastrophic increase in COVID cases,” the e-mail said.
He advised directors to identify and delay higher-risk activities and focus on lower-risk work for the time being, if possible.
In an e-mail sent on December 24, broadcast by FilmLA – the county’s non-profit film office – the health department encouraged Hollywood producers to discontinue production.
FilmLA was also asked to remind filmmakers that they are advised not to travel for production purposes during the crisis.
While travel is allowed in California, it increases the likelihood that people will be inside a vehicle together or in other enclosed spaces.
The email stressed the importance of the new precautions with Los Angeles hospitals close to capacity, but added that there is a “light at the end of the tunnel” in the form of two approved vaccines 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 most important coronavirus testing sites – according to The Hill.
FilmLA claimed that when it issued the permit for filming at the station, it did not realize that it was being used as a test site.
Many successful films were delayed in 2020 due to the pandemic, including the upcoming James Bond film “No Time to Die”, “Dune” by Denis Villeneuve and “Antlers” by Guillermo del Toro.
Some films, such as “Wonder Woman 1984”, were released during the pandemic, but found success on streaming platforms, while cinemas in many countries around the world remain closed.
A sign reminiscent of social distancing is illustrated as people wearing face masks step on the set of the movie “7th & Union” during the outbreak of coronavirus disease in California.
The email comes after The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) said that “most” of the productions will be on hold until the third week of January, if not later.
“Most entertainment productions will remain on hold until the second or third week of January, if not later,” the workers’ group said in a statement on Tuesday.
“This means that the number of member artists working on sets right now is low. Our safety protocols provide appropriate precautions for the holiday break period, including additional testing time before production resumes. “
The statement followed the news that the order of regional residence at home in California has been extended as coronavirus cases continue to rise.
Some movies, such as “Wonder Woman 1984” (pictured), were released during the pandemic, but found success on streaming platforms while cinemas in many countries around the world remain closed.
The regions were previously set to be released from the restrictions from December to 28 December, but with the extension, they will remain in force for the foreseeable future.
California has become the epicenter of the pandemic in recent weeks, with more than 24,000 virus-related deaths.
31,245 new COVID-19 infections were reported on Tuesday, accounting for 2.18 million.
Los Angeles has registered nearly 100,000 new cases in the last week alone, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Last week, the death toll reached record highs in consecutive days.
“One person now dies every 10 minutes in LA County from COVID-19,” LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said of the death rate in the area.
Los Angeles County confirmed Tuesday the highest number of hospitalizations reported in one day, to more than 7,000 people, with one in five in intensive care.
Los Angeles County confirmed Tuesday the highest number of hospitalizations reported in a day, to more than 7,000 people, with one in five in intensive care
The daily figure was an increase of almost 1,000 percent compared to two months ago and more than three times the peak of an increase in July, according to the County Department of Public Health.
The county also reported 227 new deaths, which included a delay in reporting the holidays. In total, the county recorded a total of 719,833 cases confirmed by Covid-19 and 9,482 associated deaths.
Los Angeles funeral homes have also reportedly become so crowded with COVID-19 victims that they are struggling to find storage space, with one even renting a 52-foot refrigerated truck to cope with the flow of corpses. .
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 record-breaking cases, hospitalizations and deaths nationwide.
Governor Gavin Newsom said Monday that the state is installing hospital beds in arenas, schools and tents there, although it is working to hire them.
He said 96 percent of hospitals in the county could not accept ambulance patients at some point over the weekend, compared to 33 percent during pre-tension periods.
And Ghaly said on Tuesday that the state is evaluating issues such as the availability and delivery of oxygen, as well as how it is administered to patients who are struggling to breathe.
County officials said Monday that Moderna vaccines were delivered to 59 health care units, with the intention of implementing 69,000 vaccines to staff and residents in more than 300 qualified health care homes by the end of the year.
Healthcare facilities represent only 5% of the state’s COVID-19 cases, but 35% of its deaths, said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the county’s director of public health.