ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

3 years, 4 months ago - James McCann

I'd suggest getting everyone else tested ASAP, and if people are coming back with positive tests then shut-down for 2-3 weeks.

3 years, 4 months ago - Marlom Tander

As I understand it, no, you do not need to close. But you might have to.

Your main issue is that while they don't have to isolate, they really still need to, unless it's maybe the last 3-4 days of the shoot, they're not very ill and everyone else is OK with it. Race to finish!

As you are still at the planning stage, try and ensure that all your locations can be flexible on dates, esp big rooms and outdoors. Because if someone gets covid, you want to minimise transmission risk re OTHER infected but no symptoms people, so moving from cramped flat to park is a good move.

Can you work around their absence? This will depend who they are. Cast member of an intense 3 hander halfway through filming, you might have no choice but to close.

What you should be doing is maintaining secure sets and daily testing, and, if you have a God, pray. Yes it costs now, but worth it.

There is also a good case for requiring everyone to have their NHS covid travel passport. While people are free to avoid the jab if they wish, you can't really afford the risk they present if you give them a role where their illness would cause you problems. Because they are the people who are still most likely to get Covid, and, if they get it, be too ill to work for some days/weeks.

3 years, 4 months ago - Buppha Wittaya-Amponpunt

Thank you all for the useful feedback. I really appreciate it. I will try to find ways to minimise the risk as much as possible, then. It's good to be prepared beforehand. Because I am an indie filmmaker, I can't afford to shut down my production or have so many cast and crew off sick because of Covid.

3 years, 4 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Additionally there may be a liability here if you don't test everyone regularly and have an isolation plan, keeping groups together, not all piling in like in the olden days, etc. Make reasonable efforts to prevent infection - someone will get Covid for certain looking at how wanton we are being with the current rate of spread, however at least you might minimise the risk in line with the rest of your risk assessments since the probability and impact are both high.

Even big productions have had their Covid govermental backstop policy removed now. It's a tough time to do shooting.

3 years, 4 months ago - Joe Golby

The answer to this lies in what the current laws are.
Positive coivd cases are no longer required to self-isolate by law and neither are contacts of that person.

So next check the Health and Safety executive who sets laws and guidelines for the workplace.

"HSE no longer requires every business to consider COVID-19 in their risk assessment or to have specific measures in place."
https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/index.htm

It is advisable to have some measures in place as covid spreads easily and people may feel too unwell to work. However, it is now down to the individual to decide this.
I doubt any company will ever be successfully held liable for a worker catching covid as the problem is just too huge to acknowledge.