California allows film, TV, and music production to resume from June 12 if conditions permit

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AFP
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In this photo taken on May 24, 2020 the Hollywood sign is pictured from the back at dusk during the second day of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, during the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic in Los Angeles, California. — AFP/Files

LOS ANGELES: Production of film, television and music will be allowed to resume in California from June 12 if conditions permit after months of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, the governor's office said Friday.

Film and television productions in the Golden State have been shuttered since mid-March.

The reopening will be subject to approval by local health officers, the California Public Health Office said.

"To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, productions, cast, crew and other industry workers should abide by safety protocols agreed by labour and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers," it said.

However it is not clear if major Hollywood studios will be able to resume operations from next week because Los Angeles county is one of the main coronavirus epicenters in California, recording about half the infections and deaths in the state.

To date, more than 125,000 cases and 4,500 deaths have been confirmed in California.