Hollywood Covid Protocols Extended Again, Until September, As Unions Sign – Deadline

Amid the recent surge, Hollywood unions today signed an agreement to extend the film and TV industry’s Covid protocols through September. “This is a simple extension until September 30, 2022, with two minor updates to transport van capacity and meal service,” a source familiar with the deal said.

This marks the eighth time the protocols have been extended or amended since they were first adopted on September 21, 2020, pursuant to an agreement between the AMPTP and Hollywood unions – DGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, Teamsters and the Basic Crafts.

“The agreement maintains in place workplace protocols and protections that have enabled a sustained and successful return to work while allowing flexibility to deal with the changing nature of the virus,” the DGA said in a statement. published on its website. “At this time, due to the recent surge, productions in all major production hubs are implementing the more stringent protocols in Part 1 of the Agreement. As conditions change, the Agreement provides productions with the ability to relax protocols in areas where they are experiencing low Covid hospital admissions.

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Regarding the capacity of vans, the new rules state: “When the transport is provided by the Producer, it can operate at full capacity. At all times during transport, cast and crew must wear face masks. If a vehicle contains a passenger who is not wearing a face mask (for example, a cast member whose makeup has been applied), passengers must observe physical distancing,”

Regarding food service, the latest amendments provide that “self-service food service that requires employees to share utensils such as serving spoons or tongs will not be permitted for food service to employees who do not are not fully vaccinated. Compliance with the above meets all obligations under collective agreements to provide a meal to employees. Producers are not required to provide employees with a hot meal. »

Other than that, all the old rules still apply. See the protocols here.

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The protocols allowed jobs and productions to rebound from an industry-wide lockdown at the start of the pandemic. They were originally due to expire on April 30, 2021, but were extended without major changes and contained all the provisions of the original agreement, including strictly enforced testing regimes, physical distancing, Covid compliance officers, diligent use personal protective equipment and a ‘zone’ system to ensure different sections of productions are tightly vetted based on proximity to actors, who often cannot wear masks or maintain social distancing while working .

They were extended again on June 30, 2021, and amended three weeks later to give producers “the option to implement mandatory vaccination policies for cast and crew in Area A, production by production.” Area A, where unmasked actors work, is the most restrictive of the secure working areas on the sets.

They were again extended on November 11, January 24, February 16, April 29 and May 6.