The Coronavirus has been the talk of the globe in recent weeks, and not even the secluded Archieverse town of Riverdale is safe from its effects.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the popular teen soap has suspended production due to one of the Riverdale production team members have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19, otherwise known as the Coronavirus. Warner Bros. Television sent a statement to the website, detailing the actions they will take going forward. After confirming that the “team member is currently receiving medical evaluation” concerning Coronavirus, the company went on to say:
We are working closely with the appropriate authorities and health agencies in Vancouver to identify and contact all individuals who may have come into direct contact with our team member. The health and safety of our employees, casts and crews is always our top priority. We have and will continue to take precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world.
“Out of an abundance of caution,” Riverdale has been “suspended” until further notice.
News of this production halt follows a myriad of other showbusiness affectations related to the Coronavirus. The James Bond movie, 007: No Time to Die, has pushed back its release date to November 2020 due to financial concerns regarding the Coronavirus (it could potentially take a $5 million toll on the Box Office due to people being less motivated to engage in public gatherings).
In addition, E3 2020 has been canceled amid growing concerns of the Coronavirus, while Emerald City Comic-Con has been postponed until later in the year.
Coronavirus has officially been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation. According to the website worldometers.info, there are approximately 126,666 across the world, with 4,640 deaths. 68,326 people have recovered (all information at the time of writing).
Given that Riverdale is still going through its fourth season, it’s currently unknown how the virus will affect its schedule going forward. Stay tuned for the news right here at The Nerd Stash!
What are your thoughts on all things, Coronavirus? Let us know in the comments below!
