Indoor masking returns for LA Film and TV

Film and TV productions in Los Angeles are once again expected to request masks indoors and follow other pandemic protocols due to the increase of severe COVID cases in the region. The current version of a U.S. labor-union-Hollywood studio back-to-work agreement requires indoor masking and other safety measures if the metro area records eight or more hospitalizations per week for Covid for 100,000 people in seven days.

During Thursdays media briefing (June 30), Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County Public Health Officer, revealed that, with Covid cases rising 17% from a week earlier, the area has now exceeded the eight cases per 100,000 person threshold, triggering the industry to once again reinforce protocols. “With the number of new admissions in hospitals reaching more than eight a week per 100,000 people, they are going to be reinstating their requirement for indoor masks, as well as a few other safety measures,” Ferrer said.

Ferrer also praised the movie and television industries response to the pandemic: “This industry has worked closely with its labor partners to implement safety measures around Covid, which will ensure the safety of all workers, allowing them to continue important work,” she said. “We really commend them, as well as the many other businesses who are taking advantage of many tools available to ensure workers are safe.