Covid-19 Policies & Services

Covid Prevention

General Plan

Cast & crew will be advised to follow all local government guidelines on social distancing and covid safety precautions
All cast and crew will require a negative covid antigen test prior to starting work, except employees who have tested positive and fully recovered in the past 90 days, as they may continue to test positive on a PCR test but are no longer infectious. Antigen tests for those employees may be required at the discretion of production.
All cast and crew are required to wear a mask on set INDOORS, except when on camera or eating or at a safe distance. Masking OUTDOORS is optional as long as cast/crew can be socially distanced.
All equipment needed for the shoot will be sterilized and packed in pelican cases per the Camera Department and will be sanitized at regular intervals
PPE to be provided by Production

Before Commencement of Work

Production will obtain a written declaration from all crew, cast and contractors at the start of production stating:

They are not suffering from any coronavirus related symptoms and have not had symptoms within the previous 10 days
They have not (as far as they are aware) been in contact with anyone with coronavirus symptoms within the previous 10 days
They agree to immediately report the onset of any symptoms or contact with anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus
They consent to COVID-19 testing as deemed necessary and if/when available

Travel

Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations
Cast/crew should avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet from anyone who is not traveling with them.
While traveling, cast/crew should wash hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
Cast/crew will be provided hotel accommodations that adhere to all CDC sanitation guidelines.

Covid Compliance Officer

We will have a COVID Compliance Officer (“CCO”) on location, when multiple crew members are present. This person’s responsibilities include ensuring the covid protocol is strictly followed.

Primary CCO-related responsibilities:

Will report regularly to management regarding adherence to outlined safety protocol and advise any additional measures he/she deems necessary or that have been brought up by Crew/Cast.
Will log people on set daily, and will log any reported issues; ensuring that no persons exhibiting any fever or symptoms be admitted to set or authorized to enter the location or set.
Log that all temperature checks have been taken and are within normal levels
If any team member develops symptoms and enters isolation, line producer should be notified right away and complete an incident report.
Will check in with cast/talent through the day to make sure they are still without symptoms.
Will continually check PPE stock to ensure there are more than enough supplies.
CCO shall enter all locations first to ensure location is sanitized consistent with CDC guidelines, and required signage for covid safety is in place. Call times will be staggered as needed, when necessary.

Arrival To Set

Prior to departure to set, crew will do a self check of symptoms and temperature and will contact CCO if they register a temperature of 100.4 or higher.
CCO will conduct a safety meeting at the beginning of each day of filming to review Covid Shoot Guidelines and ensure all crew are aware of protocol for the day.
Local cast/crew to arrive in personal and/or sanitized production vehicles.

Procedures On Set / Filming Protocol

Protective Equipment

Cast & Crew will be required to wear a production provided mask while INDOORS on set or otherwise during working hours indoors except when eating, cast during approved on- camera filming or outside at a safe distance from others. Mask should completely cover mouth/nose.
Cast/crew members will receive a new disposable mask from the CCO upon daily check in.
Crew must agree to wear any other protective gear requested by the production team, from time to time, and shall follow their instructions related thereto.
If any crew member is experiencing discomfort or allergic reaction to any protective equipment, they must notify the designated CCO.
All single-use PPE will be disposed of at the end of each shift in order to eliminate the risk of re-use.
Gloves should be removed when removing garbage bags, handling and disposing of trash, and any single-use PPE or food service items

Sanitizing/Hand Washing

All persons on set will be required to wash their hands at regular intervals
Hand washing station (or bathroom) will be supplied by location or hand sanitizer will be available when a station is not feasible.
When soap and water is not available, Crew shall utilize hand sanitizer regularly throughout the day. Hand sanitizer should be at least 60% alcohol (cover all surfaces of the hands and rub them together until they feel dry).
We will ask Crew to be mindful of the supply of disinfecting equipment we have and to use these items in a manner that is not wasteful.
All disposable items should be properly disposed of in waste receptacles and not placed anywhere else on set or location
All gear and cases should be wiped down after use

Social Distancing

To the greatest extent possible, all cast & crew should maintain a safe distance at all times from all other crew members and staff. A safe distance is considered at least 6 feet away from one another.
Cast will be allowed to remove masks during filming, maintaining a safe distance whenever possible

Temperature Checks

Crew should do a self-check for fever and other symptoms prior to arriving on set. If one has a fever, that crew/cast shall notify CCO immediately and not come to set.
Cast/Crew agrees to participate in all temperature checks if requested by CCO, and if a temperature check reveals a fever, they must agree to leave the workplace immediately.

Snacks, Meals, Waters

Crew meals will follow CDC guidelines for handling of food. Meals and craft service will be individually served/packaged wherever possible.
We will provide disposable bottles of water, but it is preferable that Crew bring your own water bottle from home, and wipe it down with disinfecting wipes upon arrival to set/location.
Eating will be limited to those areas designated by producer/CCO
Crew/Talent shall not share any food or beverages with any other individual.
Crew/Talent shall not share dishes, utensils, drinking cups/glasses, etc.
Any reusable items (bottles, cups, glasses, utensils) must be thoroughly sanitized in hot water/soap and/or in a dishwasher on a hot setting. Individuals should wash hands after handling any used food service items.
Crew/Talent shall dispose of all disposable items in designated trash receptacles.
Reusable items from snack or lunch must be wiped down and put back into personal cooler/bag.

Production & Field Equipment

Equipment should be handled by as few people as possible.
Personal equipment (i.e.: walkie talkies) should be cleaned before issue and each day. When possible, personal equipment should be used exclusively by the same person for the duration of the production. For example, the walkie talkie and surveillance piece should be kept by the crew member until the end of production, but as the battery dies, it can be exchanged for a new sanitized battery.
Grip and lighting package shall be minimal, and lighting and grip equipment shall be handled by as few people as possible
All mics, if used, must be wiped down with alcohol wipes prior to use for each participant. Mic’ing should be done as distantly as possible – allowing talent to self-mic when possible.
All items and equipment arriving at location (including machinery brought in by vendors) may be screened and sterilized. This will take place in a screening area, prior to setting up near personnel.
Car rigs for camera will be utilized as much as possible in order to maximize distance while filming in vehicles.

Props and Wardrobe

Props and wardrobe should be handled by as few people as possible and brought by the talent as much as possible.
Surfaces should be wiped down before and after use.
If applicable wardrobe should be placed in plastic coverings.
If applicable wardrobe must be washed/sanitized before and after use.

Personal Items and Personal Hygiene

These items should be wiped and sterilized to the extent possible, before bringing them into any workplace area, and right before leaving.
We recommend that, when Crew and Cast return to their hotel after a day of work, that they wipe down any personal items that were on set/location, wash hands with soap and water, wipe down steering wheels and other high-touch areas of vehicles, and take all steps to minimize contact with others, to the extent possible.

Registration/Declarations

Prior to travel to location or local work, a comprehensive list will be compiled of all crew members full names with emergency contact information.
There will be a comprehensive list of crew and personnel expected and allowed on set.
No unauthorized visitors will be allowed.
Prior to being allowed on set, all personnel and vendors must complete a health declaration confirming that they do not represent a COVID-19 risk to the production.
All personnel and vendors must check out prior to leaving set each day. Production should keep record of all personnel and authorized visitors/vendors.

General Conduct

Crew must agree to attend all safety briefings, which will be held at regular intervals.
Crew should adhere to all safety protocol as outlined in this document and on daily call sheets.
Crew shall minimize use of paper or other physical items on set or location.
Crew and Company representatives (ie: Line Producer) shall regularly check the CDC website for advice relating to safety precautions and practices.
Crew shall avoid contact with any persons who are sick or thought to be sick.
CDC guidelines, local authority recommendations, and governmental regulations will be checked regularly and abided by.
Immediately prior to and during filming, production personnel are asked to limit interactions with non-production personnel to only those strictly necessary to limit the risk of exposure.

Emergency Response

If any Talent/Crew/on-set person begins exhibiting symptoms or has a fever upon daily temperature read, he/she will not be allowed on set. In the event that anyone is determined to be sick, exhibiting symptoms, or has been in contact with someone sick or exhibiting symptoms, they shall be isolated from other individuals and not be allowed on set. Network production and talent management should be notified of any production team member that becomes ill on location or for any incident related to the Production.

Upon being informed that one or more cast/crew member test positive for, or has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (case), production management will:

Temporarily stop production to evaluate and take appropriate action steps before resuming production operations.
Send the sick cast/crew member to isolate immediately. Cast/crew member shall isolate at home if local, or in their hotel room if on location. If they have symptoms of serious illness such as trouble breathing, pressure or pain in the chest, bluish lips or they appear confused, call 911. They should speak with their physician about their symptoms and determine the need for testing for COVID-19.
If diagnosis is not confirmed, production management will set up an appointment for a test as soon as possible.
If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, they must self isolate. Isolation can end after Day 5 ONLY if all of the following criteria are met:

A negative COVID-19 test that was collected on day 5 or later and the person has not had a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever- reducing medicine and symptoms are improving. Employee will consult with production about when to return to in-person work

-OR-

Isolation can end after Day 10 if both of these criteria are met: The person has not had a fever for at least 24 hours and symptoms are improving. For most people, if both of the above criteria are met, isolation can end after Day 10 even if follow-up COVID-19 viral tests are positive. This is because many people continue to test positive even though they are not likely to still be infectious. Day 0 is the first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed.

Production will identify any cast, crew or others that had close contact with the ill employee. A “close contact” is any of the following people who were exposed to an “infected person” while they were infectious; An individual who was within 6 feet of the infected person for more than 15 minutes, an individual who had unprotected contact with the infected person’s body fluids and/or secretions, for example, being coughed or sneezed on, sharing utensils or saliva, or providing care without wearing appropriate protective equipment.

An employee that is exposed to someone with covid-19 and has been boosted or completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months or completed the primary series of J&J vaccine with the last 2 months, must continue to wear a mask around others and test on day 5 if possible.
If the exposed employee has completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and is not boosted OR is unvaccinated, the employee must stay home for 5 days if exposed, continue to wear a mask around others and test on day 5 if possible. If that employee develops symptoms, they must get a test and stay home.
Production will perform a cleaning and disinfection of all areas touched by the ill or infected employee.
The name of the ill employee must not be disclosed, and medical privacy must be maintained.
Medical testing for remaining crew if advised by a medical professional and if available
If three (3) or more cases of COVID-19 within the workplace within a span of 14 days the employer must report this cluster to the Department of Public Health at (888) 397-3993 or
(213) 240-7821, or on-line at www.redcap.link/covidreport, and assist Public Health in the investigation and take steps required by Public Health to control the outbreak.

GENERAL HEALTH ADVICE
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1

ALASKA COVID GUIDELINES
https://covid19.alaska.gov

COVID 19 BENEFIT ADVICE
https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/COVID19Resources/FAQ-for-SPSL-2021.html

Notes about Person-to-person spread

COVID-19 is an infectious disease that can be spread through the air when an infectious person talks or vocalizes, sneezes, coughs, or exhales; COVID-19 may be transmitted when a person touches a contaminated object and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth, although that is less common; an infectious person may show no symptoms.
According to the CDC, symptoms can include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell.
According to the CDC and CAL/OSHA information requirements, Vaccination is an important tool to help stop the spread of the pandemic and is effective at preventing COVID-19 and protecting against both transmission and serious illness or death. Vaccination information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html

Please note that these recommendations may change during production and crew and cast will be notified immediately upon any change in policies.