As the Delta variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19) gradually spreads, Netflix is now requiring actors and crewmembers on set at its productions to be vaccinated.
Netflix's vaccination requirement is in accord with agreements reached jointly and announced July 19 by various guilds such as the Teamsters, SAG-AFTRA, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the Directors Guild of America, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, reported THR. Fully vaccinated cast and crewmembers could function under relaxed protocols.
The new protocol applies to people in Zone A, the section of the set in which personal protective equipment isn't used. Netflix is the first big studio to implement the rule, which can be invoked on individual productions. A limited number of exceptions may be granted for some personnel who haven't been vaccinated working on shows already in production, and there can be exceptions based on age, religious beliefs or medical need.
The White House was expected to announce on Thursday mandatory vaccinations for all federal workers and contractors, a few days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that fully vaccinated people should continue to wear masks indoors and schools should require masks for pupils and staff. COVID has caused production delays and shutdowns for multiple movies and TV shows over the past 18 months, including Mission: Impossible 7 last month.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter