Updated 3/26: The Free Speech Coalition announced Thursday that its voluntary production hold related to the COVID-19 pandemic will “remain in place until further notice.”
The full FSC statement can be read below and is available on the FSC website, as well.
3/26/2020 Update: Coronavirus Production Hold to Remain in Place Until Further Notice
The production hold related to coronavirus will remain in effect until further notice.
Why is the production hold “voluntary”?
We have technically referred to this as “voluntary” because PASS will remain online in order to not compound one public health crisis with another. That is the only difference between this hold and a “mandatory” production hold. During a “mandatory” hold, we make PASS inaccessible in order to prevent the imminent spread of an STI. Shooting at this time is not safe, but closing PASS and prohibiting shoots with one’s household partners would only compound an already alarming public health situation.
When will the production hold end?
We will not lift this hold until the spread of the virus is under control and state and local governments allow the resumption of non-essential business.
When we called for a halt to production on March 15 to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, we used a possible end date of March 31, based on original projections used in state and local orders. That date is no longer applicable, as the State of California’s “Stay at Home” order issued on March 17 has no end date and similar “Stay at Home” and “Shelter in Place” orders have since been called in Las Vegas, Miami, and other regions.
What should I do?
-Stay at home.
-Shoot only solos or with partners who live in your household.
-Do not leave your home to work.
-Do not have physical contact with someone who doesn’t live in your household.
-We will continue to provide updates as we have more information.
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Previous advisory update (posted 3/25/20):
The Free Speech Coalition released a statement Wednesday afternoon stating that it has lifted the mandatory production hold announced March 17, but stated that the “voluntary production hold related to coronavirus remains in effect.”
The full FSC update is below and can be read on the FSC website, as well.
3/25/2020 Update on Current Production Hold
We are lifting the mandatory production hold related to use of non-standard testing protocols by THL. There were no positive tests for either syphilis or HIV. However, the voluntary production hold related to coronavirus remains in effect.
At this time, no one should be shooting or creating content with partners who are not a part of their household. To do so during this pandemic poses a health risk to yourself, your partners, your crew, and the broader community.
Shooting at this time is neither safe nor ethical, but we are re-opening PASS in order to prevent compounding the current health crisis with a blackout on STI information.
Due to the fast-moving spread of this virus and the stay-at-home orders in California, Nevada, New York, and a growing number of regions across the continent, we urge all of you to stay home, leaving only for essentials.
Please email us at pass@freespeechcoalition.com with any questions.
