Major Hollywood studios and guilds agreed on an updated set of coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols that take vaccinations into account.

These updated protocols were announced in a joint statement issued by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and several top guilds, including SAG-AFTRA and the DGA. They include giving producers "the option to implement mandatory vaccination policies" for cast and crew members working in Zone A -- the area on film productions where cast and crew typically work in close proximity without protective equipment. These updated COVID-19 protocols will remain in effect on through to Sept. 30, confirmed The Hollywood Reporter.

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“The modifications center on workplace practices for fully vaccinated cast and crew, including changes to outdoor masking requirements and updated mealtime protocols,” read the statement. Other changes including adjustments to the COVID-19 testing frequency for productions in regions of the U.S. and Canada where “COVID-19 incidence is, and remains, very low.”

The original COVID-19 protocols were established in September 2020 and scheduled to expire by April 30 before being extended to allow more time for negotiations that take the increased rollout of vaccines into account. Those involved in agreeing on the protocols will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic over the next couple of months before deciding whether or not to make further modifications.

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Numerous movie productions temporarily shut down after cast or crew members tested positive for COVID-19 under the pre-existing protocols, including Mission: Impossible 7 and Fantastic Beasts 3. Most infamously, The Batman halted shooting for two weeks after star Robert Pattinson was diagnosed with COVID-19. Other projects, like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, paused filming in response to rising cases in the surrounding region. These movies have all since either completed production or are expected to in the foreseeable future.

In an effort to encourage people to get the COVID-19 vaccine while countering misinformation about the pandemic and vaccinations in general, actors like Hugh Jackman, Jack Black and Samuel L. Jackson have posted on social media after receiving their injections. Bill Pullman even reprised his role as U.S. president Tom Whitmore from 1996's Independence Day in a pro-vaccine Budweiser ad, as part of a partnership between Budweiser and the charity Direct Relief to promote vaccine access and awareness.

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Source: The Hollywood Reporter