With the rising cases in production hubs due to the delta variant, PASS and the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) are urging increased vigilance and testing on productions. Their full statement to these ends is available here and reprinted in-full below.
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As COVID-19 cases rise in production hubs, PASS is encouraging performers to be vaccinated and recommending that production companies practice increased vigilance with protocols such as health screenings and testing.
COVID-19 infections, driven by the new Delta variant, are rising throughout the United States — particularly among unvaccinated people. We also encourage anyone who has not been vaccinated and has the ability to do so to get vaccinated as soon as as possible. Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the transmission and the development of serious illness or death from the coronavirus. While breakthrough infections of vaccinated people have been reported, research shows that it is still very effective at preventing transmission from the Delta variant. If you do acquire the virus, the vaccine significantly reduces your risk of serious illness — 97% of hospitalizations and 99% of deaths due to COVID-19 are among unvaccinated individuals.
If you are located in an area of rising COVID-19 rates, such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas and South Florida, we recommend you increase COVID-19 testing for everyone on set, including vaccinated individuals, until there is a decline in the number of infections again.
We encourage the industry to remain diligent in adhering to the COVID-19 health & safety production guidelines released in June 2020. While guidance from the CDC and others has suggested that vaccinated individuals need not be continually tested, the dramatic increase in cases and the rise in breakthrough infections may warrant more frequent testing.
For information on getting vaccinated, visit vaccines.gov.
PASS will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and provide the industry with updates and guidance. If you have any questions, please contact ian@passcertified.org.
