Production suspended on 'Lord of the Rings' series in New Zealand

Production of Amazon's Lord of the Ring series in New Zealand has been suspended for two weeks as the country deals with the coronavirus pandemic. 

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Production staff, reportedly numbering 800, have been told not to come from Monday after the country closed its borders on March 13 to contain the spread of the coronavirus, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

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"In an abundance of caution, UAP [Untitled Amazon Project] has suspended production for the next two (2) weeks commencing Monday, March 16. This is done in an environment where travel restrictions directed at the control of Covid-19 are issued daily by New Zealand and most other countries," according to the advice from producers GSR Productions sent to all cast and crew on Sunday, published in the New Zealand Herald. 

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None of the crew members have tested positive for the coronavirus, but they have been directed not to report to the studio without the "express permission of your supervisor." 

The memo said the shut down was put in place to "minimise stress on the resources and infrastructures around us by doing our part to reduce population density in our communities and daily activities, in efforts to help reduce the spread of the virus." 

"We will provide updates as we continue to evaluate trends and developments, the memo said. 

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Image credit: AP