'SNL' Shuts Down Production For Next 3 Shows

TV show “Saturday Night Live” has decided to shut down its production for the next three weeks due to COVID-19.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the show was all set to return on March 28 with John Krasinski as the host. But it seems, the viewers would have to wait much longer to see their favorite TV show back on the small screen again.

The spokesperson of the studio confirmed the news of the production halt and explained that the studio is continuously keeping an eye on the situation and will be making decisions on a week-to-week basis. NBC has been taking such drastic steps to ensure the safety of the stars and the staff members.

The studio has already announced that the shooting of all its talk shows – “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night With Seth Meyers” — will be held without an audience.

“As a precautionary measure, starting Monday, March 16, we have decided to suspend live audiences for ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ and ‘Late Night With Seth Meyers.’ Our shows will continue filming on their regular schedule, and currently, there will be no impact on air dates,” the statement from the network read.

World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a “pandemic.” The chief of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted that they are constantly in touch with every country, urging them to take urgent measures.

“We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear,” Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

On the other hand, celebrities like Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Olga Kurylenko, and Idris Elba have tested positive for the virus. Hanks and his wife Wilson were in Australia when they announced that they got the virus. However, after extensive care, the couple has finally left the medical facility after the coronavirus quarantine.

Kurylenko announced her diagnosis while showing that she was in self-quarantine using a picture of what looked like an apartment window on social media. She revealed that she has been feeling unwell for about a week and that “fever and fatigue” were the main symptoms of her sickness.

Meanwhile, the “Luther” star gave a personal update on Twitter by telling his fans that he has tested positive. Elba claimed that he did not have any symptoms but he tested positive because he came in contact with a person who also tested positive recently.

Sports celebrities who tested positive for the disease include Juventus and Italian Serie-A defender Daniele Rugani, Chelsea’s winger Callum Hudson-Odoi and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert.