Exception from wearing face masks for performing artists

On May 11 2020, the Slovak Public Health Authority released measures for filmmakers and granted an exception from wearing protective face masks for performing artists during the production of audiovisual works and programmes.

The decision was made after the request by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic and representatives of Slovak audiovisual industry, who had the week before adopted self-regulatory guidelines for risk protection against SARS-CoV-2 contagion and presented them to the cultural ministry as the basic safety rules for audiovisual production to be adhered to by the industry.

Public Health Authority issued several conditions which have to be met for the production work to restart. The producer must take care of the following:

• make sure that the performing artists have a negative PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 that is no older than four days, and if the productione takes longer, have the test done once every 14 days;

• keep at least 2-metre distance between artists and other people present; the distance does not apply between the artists themselves;

• provide hand disinfection for artists and other people present during the artistic activity;

• ensure regular disinfection of the premises where the artistic activity is performed and, if held indoors, ensure regular ventilation and aerating;

• prevent people with a body temperature higher than 37 degrees Celsius or other coronavirus symptoms from entering the premises.

The Slovak Audiovisual Fund confirmend that the costs incurred and covered in connection with the respective regulations will be considered eligible costs within the realisation of projects.

For more information on current COVID-19 measures in Slovakia see here: The Slovak Spectator