Coronation Street filming disrupted as actor tests positive for coronavirus

Actors have been using two-metre-long poles to ensure social distancing requirements are met

Production on the long-running ITV soap Coronation Street was briefly disrupted when one of the stars contracted coronavirus.

The news comes after Coronation Street, along with other staples of the UK TV industry, restarted production during the ongoing pandemic.

A spokesperson for ITV confirmed the news to various outlets, saying: “We can confirm a member of the Coronation Street team has tested positive for coronavirus. 

“The protocols we have in place for such an eventuality have been implemented and the individual is now self-isolating at home.”

The unnamed actor learned of their condition towards the end of last week. The positive diagnosis meant that the filming schedule had to be adjusted, and parts of the workspace underwent an “intensive clean”.

Two-metre long sticks are reportedly being used to ensure that the show’s stars maintain the requisite gap needed for proper social distancing.

“Although we do not believe anyone has been within [2 meters] of the individual, as a precaution, the production team who were working with the individual have been notified,” the spokesperson added. 

“In keeping with health and safety guidance, we have also undertaken an intensive clean of touch points in the cohort area where the individual was working and areas of the building they visited.”

Coronation Street has remained on air consistently throughout the pandemic, unlike the BBC’s rival soap EastEnders.

It began filming using social distancing methods back in May, considerably earlier than most other series.