Ellen Pompeo addresses the possibility of a coronavirus episode of Grey’s Anatomy

Following the season finale of Grey’s Anatomy last week, Ellen Pompeo opened up about the possibility of a coronavirus episode of the show.

The season ended early, on its 21st of 25 planned episodes, since production shut down due to the coronavirus.

While she doesn’t know how the spread of COVID-19 will affect the upcoming 18th season, she was asked if there might be a coronavirus episode in a video interview with Variety on Thursday. 

‘I don’t know. I thought about it,’ Pompeo began, before addressing a speech former President Barack Obama gave in 2014 about a pandemic. 

‘Obviously, we don’t want to get too political here, but I was just watching the news and I saw clip of Barack Obama in 2014, saying that a pandemic was inevitable and that we should be prepared for it,’ she added.

‘And then in 2014, the Republicans were not granting him the budget, the access to put together what he felt like he needed to keep the American people safe, is how he put it in his words, the actress continued.

‘So, in 2014, Obama was very well aware that this was going to happen and very well aware that we needed to be more prepared than we were at that time for it. The fact that five years later we’re not prepared, some people dropped the ball for sure. It’s disappointing,’ she added.

She also praised all of the real healthcare workers who are going out every day to battle the outbreak.

‘Our healthcare professionals, the fact that they’re fighting this fight unprepared without the proper gear is really heartbreaking for me. When people are struggling, if you’re struggling, I think it’s always helpful to think of someone else and think of what you could do for someone else,’ she added.

Grey’s Anatomy just finished its 17th season, and while they don’t know how the 18th season will play out with the coronavirus outbreak, she also revealed that she started hearing that fans went to medical school because of her character around Season 10.

‘It really started probably like year 10, because by that time it was everybody who had sort of grown up with the show,’ she said.

‘They started watching the show when they were 14 or whatever, so when they’re 24, they’ve graduated college and now they’re in medical school,’ Pompeo added.

‘People were saying, “I went to medical school because of you. I went to nursing school because of you. I’m an x-ray tech because of Grey’s.”‘

When asked about the four episodes that were left without filming, Pompeo wasn’t sure how that would be dealt with in Season 18.

‘I don’t know. As far as I know, our writer’s room is not up yet. Obviously, they can’t gather,’ she said.