Seven’s flagship breakfast news program, Sunrise, has reportedly become the first television program in Australia to implement a mandatory vaccine policy after a positive COVID case was confirmed in their Martin Place studios last month.
An article in The Australian media section reports that producers on Sunrise have implemented a new policy to prevent the employment of unvaccinated freelance make-up staff on the daily breakfast program.
At this stage it is unclear if the ban only applies to the programs make-up department or if other freelance staff are affected.
TV network make-up departments are considered a high-risk area for COVID-19 transmission due to the extended time periods of close contact.
The decision to remove unvaccinated workers from the make-up area was reportedly made after a production team member tested positive to COVID-19 late last month. The case caused several members of the Sunrise team to enter a 14-day quarantine program, including popular newsreader Edwina Bartholomew.
It’s understood the infected staff member had been double-vaccinated before testing positive and was quick to self-isolate once symptoms had emerged.
All employees on Sunrise undergo a daily rapid antigen test and a weekly PCR test.
The decision to prevent the employment of un-vaccinated make-up staff comes after TV Blackbox last month revealed the network had surveyed its entire workforce regarding the issue of compulsory vaccination. It’s understood 74% of staff voted in favour of a mandatory vaccination policy.
Seven has been approached for comment.
