Charmed production halted AGAIN due to positive COVID-19 test as studio begins contact tracing

Production on the set of Charmed was stopped for the day on Wednesday after a positive COVID-19 test was revealed, according to Deadline. 

CBS studios is conducting a thorough contact tracing program in efforts to follow protocol amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

This isn’t the first issue with the virus as the Vancouver, Canada production was shut down last month due to delays in COVID-19 test results that impacted a slew of series based in the area. 

Riverdale, Batwoman and Nancy Drew have also had to halt production in the recent months due to pandemic issues.

‘Creative BC is liaising with government on behalf of industry to address the situation,’ Karin Watson said in an email to City News in September. ‘We understand there are challenges with testing capacity and parties are working to manage the volume. We understand the situation is temporary.’ 

The site also reported that ‘Netflix, Warner Bros. and CW halted production in Canada in March due to the coronavirus. The industry was never ordered to shut down, but the shutdown affected 95 percent of the 14,500 technicians and artists represented by IATSE Local 891.’

Charmed was renewed for another season earlier this year, with the third season set to debut in January 2021.

The series stars Melonie Diaz, Madeleine Mantock and Sarah Jeffrey in the reboot of the popular witchy drama. 

The show hasn’t been without criticism though as Rose McGowan, who starred in the original series, bashed the trend of remaking popular television shows, and called the new reboot ‘a money grab to cash in on the Charmed name.’

McGowan said she had ‘no idea’ who Sarah Jeffrey was after the star slammed Rose for putting down women of color. 

‘I have been too busy fighting monsters & fighting for a massive Cultural Reset to notice who’s in the reboot,’ Rose said in a lengthy tweet. ‘Absolutely nothing to do with race, that’s quite a stretch you took. I’m beyond glad any WOC has a well paying job. Hell yes to that. I’m sure you are a great actress.’ 

The drama all started after McGowan and her former Charmed costar Holly Marie Combs appeared in a TikTok video where McGowan said the new reboot ‘sucks.’

Charmed was produced by Aaron Spelling and first debuted in 1998. The eighth and final season aired in 2006.