Topline
Covid-19 protocols on film and TV sets throughout the country will remain in place through April 30, the major Hollywood unions announced Wednesday, as California and other states relax their restrictions and mask mandates.
In this image released on April 21, host Melissa Villaseñor behind the scenes of the 2021 Film … [+]
Key Facts
The Return To Work Protocols, first implemented in September 2020, put in place requirements on Covid safety on all film and TV productions.
The new restrictions updated the definition of “fully vaccinated” to include booster shots, changed the mask requirements to KN95s, N95s or KF94s instead of cloth masks and allowed greater use of antigen tests instead of PCRs.
California’s indoor mask mandate for vaccinated people expired Wednesday except for in certain public areas, like schools.
In Los Angeles, a hub for the entertainment industry, the outdoor mask mandate was lifted Wednesday, though an indoor one, regardless of vaccination status, remains in place.
Tangent
In New York City, another hotspot for the film and TV industry, citizens no longer have to wear masks in some public indoor spaces like offices and grocery stores, as determined by the business owner, though they have to be worn on public transportation and in healthcare facilities.
Key Background
The number of Covid-19 cases in Los Angeles have dropped over the last month. As of Monday, the seven-day case rate per 100,000 people in LA decreased 57% from the week prior, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, though the agency still deems the county as having a “high” Covid-19 transmission rate. Disney, Netflix and Tyler Perry Studios are among the studios that have mandated vaccines on their sets, with the latter mandating the booster shot last month before the latest update to the protocols.
Further Reading
Hollywood COVID Protocols Extended to April 30, Booster Shots Addressed (Variety)
L.A. County lifts outdoor mask mandate (Los Angeles Times)
Tyler Perry Studios Mandates Covid-19 Vaccines And Booster Shots (Forbes)
Here’s Where You Still Need to Wear Masks in the New York Region (New York Times)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2022/02/16/hollywood-keeps-on-set-covid-protocols-as-restrictions-ease-elsewhere-including-in-los-angeles/