The UK government has relaxed quarantine rules for international film and TV productions shooting in England. The rules do not yet apply to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden has announced select international film and high-end television stars, directors and producers will be exempt if they are deemed essential to the production.
Most travellers to the UK must quarantine for two weeks, although from July 10 visitors from “low-risk countries” will not have to isolate in England. Currently, the US is not on this list. The new rules pave the way for Hollywood production to resume first in England, and then hopefully the rest of the UK. The exemption applies to cast and crew coming into England specifically to work on film and television productions which qualify as British under one of the government’s cultural tests or official co-production treaties.
Under the new rules, exempted individuals will live and work in controlled environments behind closed doors. Productions will need to follow government Covid guidance and put in place stringent protocols to ensure that they have a minimal impact on public health.
