Big Brother Australia has temporarily shut down production as a crew member is being tested for coronavirus, prompting others to self-isolate as a precaution.
The reboot, which is currently being filmed in Manly’s North Head for Channel Seven, has been halted for at least two days while the member of staff awaits coronavirus results after their housemate tested positive to the virus, TV Blackbox reports.
The show’s production company Endemol Shine Australia gave the following statement to TV Blackbox.
“We have been made aware that a Big Brother crew member has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The crew member is currently feeling well and showing no symptoms of the virus, however is being tested and now self-isolating. As a precaution the site is currently in lock down pending testing and further advice. We continue to work within all Federal and State guidelines and will always make the health, safety and well-being of our cast and crew our number one priority. Housemates have been brought up to date with the current situation”.
If the staff member tests positive to the virus, production could be entirely halted for two weeks as a precautionary measure.
Endemol Shine Australia is yet to comment on whether the housemates have remained in the studio compound while the crew are self-isolating.
The show began filming last month, just before the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus a pandemic. This is the first time in the show’s history that it has been pre-recorded.
The news comes just over one week after the contestants were informed of the current worldwide health crisis.
