UPDATED: England has imposed a fresh set of restrictions to stall the rapid spread of coronavirus that will be valid for the next six months, but so far, film and TV production remains unaffected.
The devolved administrations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will issue their own guidelines.
Those who can work from home are once again being asked to work from home, except for those professions that cannot be carried out from home. From Thursday, all pubs, bars and restaurants must close by 10pm, and will offer only table service. Face masks remain mandatory inside businesses, while fines for those not wearing masks have doubled to £200 ($256).
There was no immediate policy decision announced around the schedules for cinemas or the impact on film and TV production. However, Variety understands that, on the face of it, the new safeguarding measures don’t yet restrict ongoing productions, except to make COVID-safe protocols legally binding and punishable via hefty fines for companies.
It is still unclear, however, what the new guidelines mean for exhibition. Variety understands that cinemas in England may face the same treatment as pubs, bars and restaurants, and could be asked to close by 10pm as well, meaning that later film showings will need to be rescheduled.
“We have reached a perilous turning point,” U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon. “We always knew that while we might have driven the virus into retreat, the prospect of a second wave was real. This is the moment we must act. This is by no means a full lockdown.”
“These measures will work only if people comply,” said Johnson. Businesses breaking COVID rules will also be fined, he added.
The PM also warned that the country couldn’t afford to take it easy after six months, saying that “complacency could be our undoing.”
On Monday, the country’s top government advisers warned that the virus is growing exponentially and could reach 49,000 infections a day by mid-October and 200 deaths a day by November.
Johnson said that there would be “greater restrictions” if the current measures don’t work. He will address the public in a broadcast speech on Tuesday evening, though he’s not expected to roll out further measures in that address.