‘We are practising social distancing’: Channel Nine confirms filming for The Block 2020 will continue amid coronavirus pandemic
Channel Nine has confirmed filming for the new season of The Block will continue amid the coronavirus outbreak.
In a statement released on nine.com.au on Wednesday, the network announced that production is going to continue but the site will be closed to anyone ‘not essential’ to the show.
The network also said producers are going to ‘unprecedented levels to make the site safe for everyone’ and are giving briefings to the contestants.
Still going: Channel Nine has confirmed filming for new season of The Block will continue amid the coronavirus outbreak. Pictured The Block host Scott Cam
The executive Producer and creator of The Block, Julian Cress, said: ‘We are going to follow all of the practices and all of the advice that has been given, we are practising social distancing, we are putting into effect everything that has been suggested.’
He said producers have also offered to fly the families of three couples, on the show who have children, to Melbourne where filming is currently underway.
Julian explained that no contestant has said ‘they want to give up and go home’ and the Network will continue filming for as long as possible.
Restrictions: The network said that production is going to continue but the site will be closed to anyone ‘not essential’ to the show
‘The contestants want to see this thing to the very end and they have made that very clear to us, our job is to help them do that,’ he said.
‘We have also in the past 48 hours spoken to every one of our suppliers, we’ve looked into their supply chain issues, delivery schedules [and] with their help we have been able to pre-order everything we need to finish this job,’ he said.
The decision comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison banned indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and warned Australians to not travel abroad on Wednesday.
‘We are going to follow all of the practices’: Nine revealed producers are going to ‘make the site safe for everyone’ and are giving briefings to the contestants. Pictured co-hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft
He also encouraged people to practice social distancing, and to maintain a 1.5 metre distance when possible.
The news comes one week after The Block’s hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft were pictured filming with the latest batch of contestants in Melbourne’s Brighton.
It is believed that filming began on February 22 and will continue until May, with five homes to be renovated on a building site purchased for $15million.
Exciting: It is believed that filming for the new season began on February 22 and will continue until May, with five homes to be renovated on a building site. Pictured The Block cast 2010