Home & Away but not as you know it: Ada Nicodemou films scenes for the soap with crew wearing masks

Home and Away… but not as you know it: Crew members wear face masks while filming a scene with Ada Nicodemou – as producers desperately try to prevent a coronavirus outbreak

Home and Away producers aren’t taking any chances amid the coronavirus pandemic as filming continues in Sydney’s Palm Beach.

Ada Nicodemou, who plays Leah Patterson-Baker, was surrounded by crew members in face masks while rehearsing a scene with co-star Darcey Wilson on Thursday.

It comes after Australia’s other major soap opera, Neighbours, halted production earlier this week after a COVID-19 scare on set. 

Home and Away… but not as you know it: Ada Nicodemou filmed scenes on Thursday for the long-running soap amid the coronavirus pandemic, with crew wearing face masks

Ada – who plays Leah Patterson on the long-running soap – cut a casual figure in a green singlet and black shorts, which she teamed with white sneakers. 

Darcey also wore a similar outfit, wearing a yellow ‘good vibes’ T-shirt and white shorts and runners. 

The pair appeared in high spirits, despite coronavirus fears. 

And... action: While things looked normal in front of the camera, behind the scenes things were different. Ada is pictured with co-star Darcey Wilson

And… action: While things looked normal in front of the camera, behind the scenes things were different. Ada is pictured with co-star Darcey Wilson

Safety measures: At one point, a makeup artist was seen attending to the pair while covering her mouth and nose. A sound person covered their entire face with a covering

Safety measures: At one point, a makeup artist was seen attending to the pair while covering her mouth and nose. A sound person covered their entire face with a covering

Safety measures: At one point, a makeup artist was seen attending to the pair while covering her mouth and nose. A sound person covered their entire face with a covering

Carrying on: The pair appeared in high spirits, despite coronavirus fears

Carrying on: The pair appeared in high spirits, despite coronavirus fears

At one point, a makeup artist was seen attending to the pair while covering her mouth and nose. 

A sound person covered their entire face with a covering. 

On Wednesday, production for the Australian soap, Neighbours, shut down due to a coronavirus scare. 

But staff returned to the set in Nunawading, Melbourne, on Friday after an employee who had come into contact with a COVID-19 patient tested negative.

Shutdown: On Wednesday, production for the Australian soap, Neighbours, shut down due to a coronavirus scare

Shutdown: On Wednesday, production for the Australian soap, Neighbours, shut down due to a coronavirus scare

Health crisis: COVID-19 is devastating the world and putting countries in lock down

Health crisis: COVID-19 is devastating the world and putting countries in lock down

Producers are now taking precautions to reduce the spread of the deadly virus, including dividing up the crew and allocating work areas to enable social distancing. 

COVID-19 is devastating the world and putting countries in lock down. 

In Australia and as of Friday, there are 756 confirmed cases of coronavirus and seven deaths.

Precautions: On the set of Neighbours, producers are now taking precautions to reduce the spread of the deadly virus, including dividing up the crew and allocating work areas to enable social distancing

Precautions: On the set of Neighbours, producers are now taking precautions to reduce the spread of the deadly virus, including dividing up the crew and allocating work areas to enable social distancing

An 81-year-old woman died on Thursday from the illness, becoming the latest victim. 

On Friday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian again implored people to adhere to social distancing measures in order to limit the speed of the virus’ spread. 

‘What we want to make sure is if we control the spread and keep the numbers very low as to who is actually needing to go into intensive care – and at the moment it’s only a handful of people who are in hospital because of this illness – that’s where we want to keep it,’ Ms Berejiklian told the Nine Network on Friday.

Will Home and Away be put into lock down? On Friday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian again implored people to adhere to social distancing measures in order to limit the speed of the virus' spread

Will Home and Away be put into lock down? On Friday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian again implored people to adhere to social distancing measures in order to limit the speed of the virus’ spread

‘We are not on top of it and nobody is, but we are still at a stage where we’re managing it and we don’t want to lose control and that’s why it’s important to socially distance.’ 

The latest death from the virus comes ahead of all non-citizens and non-residents being banned from entering the country from 9pm on Friday.

Australians and their direct family members will still be allowed in but must self-quarantine for 14 days.

Pandemic: As of Friday morning, there are 756 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia and seven deaths

Pandemic: As of Friday morning, there are 756 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia and seven deaths

 

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