Mumbai: The Indian Films & TV Producers Council (IFTPC) stated that producers of all TV shows have been requested to get their crew tested for novel coronavirus as per the recent guidelines. The entertainment sector has hit badly amid surge in the spread of COVID-19 in Maharashtra, particularly Mumbai, which is hub to Hindi film and TV industry.

Accordingly, the producers have led tests in the last two days and submitted the reports. More than 9,000 tests were conducted from the 90 shows which are being shot currently. These tests will be repeated after 15 days, as per the Break the Chain guidelines.

The IFTPC has also asserted that the antigen tests shall be done every week for extra safety.

JD Majethia, Chairman TV & Web wing, said, “The broadcasters have graciously borne the cost of the test. All the guidelines are followed scrupulously and the producers have been urged to create a bio-bubble of the sets and post production facilities for total safety.”

Majethia explained that the work on bio-bubble has already started and will function in a couple of days.

"I hope in view of the stringent measures adopted by the industry, the government will not impose any lockdown on the industry. The industry is doing a good job by continuously producing entertaining shows which help people stay at home and bring relief to their stressful lives while they are confined to their homes totally," he said.

He hopes that the state will not enforce a lockdown on the entertainment industry.

In recent days, several on-ground projects such as Ram Setu, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Mr Lele to name a few had to halt their shoots after actors, including Akshay Kumar, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal and Bhumi Pednekar tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, apart from the actors, as many as 45 members of Akshay Kumar's Ram Setu, have also tested positive for the infection.

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has also recently formed a "monitoring team" to safeguard that all COVID-19 shooting guidelines -- including safety precautions on set, avoiding shooting of crowd sequences-- are severely followed.

(With inputs from IANS)