Production on Days of Our Lives halted after positive COVID-19 test
Cast and crew of long-running soap Days of Our Lives have stopped filming for two weeks, after a member of the production team returned a positive test result for COVID-19.
That person has been placed in isolation, while close contacts have been identified and are in quarantine for 14 days. There will also be deep cleaning and disinfecting at Burbank Studios where Days is filmed, Deadline reported.
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Production is set to get back underway on October 26 but airdates in the US and on 9Gem and 9Now will not be impacted.
Days was ahead of schedule before the coronavirus pandemic caused production to stop in March, with enough episodes to take them through to October
The cast and crew first returned to filming on September 1, later than other productions, because they had so many episodes already completed.
Days was renewed for a 56th season earlier this year. It followed speculation the show would be cancelled after the cast went on hiatus earlier than usual, and were released from their contracts.
At the time the rumours were defiantly quashed by several cast members, including Kristian Alfonso who plays Hope and Chandler Massey who portrays Will, while head writer Ron Carlivati also reassured fans the show wasn't ending.
"We're still here and we are not going anywhere," Alfonso said in a video she posted on Instagram at the time.
Adding fuel to the cancellation speculation last year was a storyline that jumped ahead one year in time. However, this was only a plot device to refresh and reset the stories and characters.
"This is a great way to reset things in Salem," Ken Corday, Days' executive producer, told TVInsider. "It will be a catalyst for many more [changes] to follow."
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The time jump episodes began airing on 9Gem and 9Now three months ago, with shocking twists such as the return of Stefano in the body of Steve 'Patch' Johnson, and Ben going to jail for his sister's murder despite pleading innocence.
Meanwhile, in current US episodes fans have enjoyed the return of iconic character Sami, played by Alison Sweeney. However, there have also been sad developments, with Alfonso and her character Hope deciding to leave Days after 37 years.
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Days first premiered on TV in the US in 1965 and has gone on to win more than 40 Daytime Emmy Awards. It was created by Ted and Betty Corday, whose son Ken is now the executive producer.
Stream the latest episodes of Days of Our Lives for free on 9Now.