CBS Studios Updates Covid Protocols As Negotiations For Industrywide Agreement Continue

deadline.com:

As negotiations on negotiations on new Covid protocols drag on between the AMPTP and DGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, the Teamsters and the Basic Crafts, CBS Studios has modified some of their rules about testing and contact tracing.

They were spelled out in a note sent to crews earlier this week, a copy of which was obtained by Deadline. I hear there have been similar tweaks at other studios but have not been able to confirm that.

CBS Studios is now testing production team members in Zone A, which includes the cast and those directly communicating with them, once weekly, while for those in Zone B, mandatory testing is once weekly every other week, sources tell Deadline. “With some recent federal changes to Covid guidelines, the Company’s Covid Task Force has also revised some of the Company’s Covid response policies and processes as follows.

All changes are effective immediately,” the note said. Contact tracing will no longer be conducted on studio programs except where required by law, including in the State of California where a lot of the TV production is based.