A positive COVID-19 case has put The Voice’s production on hold as the Omicron variant of the virus sweeps across Australia.
The popular singing reality show had been filming at Sydney’s Fox Studios and was set to wrap up filming for the year on December 21.
However, when a contestant tested positive for COVID-19, Seven had no choice but to shut down production a day early and postpone filming until the new year.
“Filming of the new season of The Voice was due to wrap today (21 December) for the year,” a spokesperson said on Tuesday, via 7News.
The Voice‘s 2022 judges.
(Seven)“Today’s filming was postponed. Production will resume in mid-January, as planned.”
The Voice team had been filming both The Voice and The Voice Generations at the time, with both seasons slated to air in 2022.
Coaches Rita Ora, Guy Sebastian, Keith Urban and Jessica Mauboy had all been in Sydney filming, however it’s unclear if they had any contact with the infected contestant.
The spokesperson added: “All COVID safety protocols have been – and will continue to be – strictly followed, including daily rapid testing for all crew and talent, social distancing and limits on the number of people on set.”
If the judges did have direct contact with the person who tested positive, they’d likely be considered close contacts and required to isolate for seven days.
That would mean missing out on Christmas festivities, as current COVID-19 rules in NSW dictate that close contacts must remain in isolation until receiving a negative PCR test result on or after day six of their isolation.
However, if Rita, Guy, Keith or Jessica had limited contact with the contestant, they would likely be considered only casual contacts.
In that case, they would need to immediately get a PCR test and only isolate until they receive a negative result.
None of the judges have commented on the COVID-19 case on set or confirmed if they have been identified as close or casual contacts.
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