Jurassic World: Dominion cast and crew take three COVID-19 tests a week

Movies like Jurassic World: Dominion and Avatar are back to work, as are shows like The Witcher. How are sets working in the age of COVID-19?

Jurassic World: Dominion is currently killing it at the COVID-19 safety game, and I must say I’m impressed and relieved. Given that it’s a blockbuster production and involves the likes of Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard — along with the original Jurassic trio of Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Sam Neill — they absolutely need to pull out all the stops.

Since this was one of the first blockbuster productions to resume filming, along with Avatar 2, it was compulsory to initiate proper COVID-19 safety precautions. But what exactly are they doing? Well, first off, the cast and crew are required to take COVID-19 tests three times a week, according to an in-depth report by The New York Times.

And that’s just scratching the surface. Under usual circumstances, everyone who needed to be on set would be, but things are a bit different during a global pandemic. One group comes in prior to and after filming, while the others are in what is called the “Green Zone.”

The “Green Zone” encompasses the cream of the crop members of the production, including the cast, director, camerapersons and any essential workers need for that day of shoot. They’re the ones that have to take three COVID-19 tests a week.

But as I said, COVID-19 tests aren’t the only precaution being taken. Antiviral mists are being used on set, bright orange traffic cones outline social distancing guidelines, and temperature scanners are at every door.

I think the set of Jurassic World might be the safest place any one could be right now. That and the set of Avatar 2, which is filming in New Zealand, which up until recently hadn’t had any positive cases for 100 days.

According to Bryce Dallas Howard, all the safety protocols were put into place ahead of the cast members arriving. “Until now, actors were not really included in prep,” she said. “But in order to get any of us on a plane, we had to thoroughly understand the protocols, who was involved and hear second and third opinions. We are the guinea pigs who are going to take the leap.”

And the precautions go beyond the set itself. Similar to the NBA’s “bubble” idea, where players must stay in their bubbles and have no/very limited contact with people outside of it, Universal has paid for an entire hotel where everyone working on Jurassic World: Dominion can stay during production.

It actually sounds like it’d be a pretty fun time, because once the two-week quarantine period ends, everyone can hang out inside the hotel. Masks and social distancing requirements are lax and everyone can sit down to have breakfast together, work out, or even play Frisbee on the hotel lawn if their heart desires.

The hotel staff is also tested three times a week, so rest assured that everything has been thought through. They even have a full-time team of one doctor and four nurses.

I’m sure Avatar 2 is taking similar precautions has similar precautions. We’ve also seen how Netflix is handling COVID-19 prevention on the set of The Witcher 2:

Between all of this, it looks like movies and TV shows may be finding their way back.

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h/t SYFY Wire