Hollywood Productions Stop Again As COVID-19 Cases Rise | WORLD

Most Hollywood productions have been on hold again until at least mid-January, the film industry actors union announced, as COVID-19 cases soar to record levels in Los Angeles, the west coast of the United States. .

SAG-AFTRA reported that most entertainment productions “will remain on hiatus until the second or third week of January, if not later”In a statement issued to members Tuesday night.

The message comes after Los Angeles County health officials on Christmas Eve urged filmmakers to “consider pausing work for a few weeks during this catastrophic increase in COVID cases”.

Los Angeles, the most populous county in the North American nation, has become the latest epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, surpassing 7,000 hospitalizations for the first time on Monday.

The sprawling county of 10 million people has recorded nearly 750,000 cases, including just under 10,000 deaths.

The order of “stay at homeSouthern California “spread indefinitely on Tuesday, with several hospitals short of supply that were forced to turn away ambulances.

The SAG-AFTRA union has concentrated months-long efforts to restart Hollywood activity since its initial shutdown in March, signing an agreement with major studios in September with the aim of increasing security measures against coronavirus on set for its actors. , including rehearsals.

Still, Los Angeles entertainment productions were at less than half their usual activity levels in October, before declining again as COVID-19 cases began to skyrocket.