Filming on EastEnders and BBC Studios dramas including Casualty, Doctors, Holby City, Pobol y Cwm and River City will be postponed “until further notice”, the BBC has said.
In a statement about EastEnders, the corporation said: “In light of the spread of Covid-19, after much consideration, it has been decided that filming on EastEnders will be postponed until further notice.
"The decision was made after the latest Government update.
“We will continue to follow the latest news and advice from the World Health Organisation and Public Health England.
"We have also taken the decision to reduce the amount of episodes we broadcast each week to two, so that we can ensure the audience can continue to enjoy EastEnders in their homes for as long as possible.”
A similar statement was released to add that all other BBC Studios productions - Casualty, Doctors, Holby City, Pobol y Cwm and River City - will also be postponed.
The BBC's drastic measures come after it was reported that ITV bosses have "banned kissing scenes" on the set of Coronation Street in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.
"Coronation Street shoots about six to eight weeks in advance, so viewers might see some kissing in the next month or so, but the scenes they’re shooting right now will have nothing of the sort in. They are taking no chances," a source told The Sun.
"The longer they can keep cast and crew well, the better, and if a storyline has to suffer slightly by losing a kiss so be it.”
ITV said: “Scenes with kissing or close contact are being altered to minimise contact.”
The decision comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the general public against mass gatherings, urging people to avoid pubs, clubs and theatres for the foreseeable future to prevent coronavirus being spread further.
Currently, the UK has 1950 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 71 people confirmed dead.
