California-based film company Lionsgate implements mask mandate, contact tracing amid new Covid scare

The California-based film studio Lionsgate has reimplemented a mask mandate for some employees at its Santa Monica flagship office after several employees tested positive for Covid.

According to Deadline, Lionsgate/Starz Response Manager Sommer McElroy sent an email to staff announcing that masks would be mandatory for the 3rd and 5th floors of its five-story building.

"Employees must wear a medical grade face covering (surgical mask, KN95 or N95) when indoors except when alone in an office with the door closed, actively eating, actively drinking at their desk or workstation, or if they are the only individual present in a large open workspace," the internal memo stated.

All Lionsgate employees will also be required to perform a self-screening before coming into work each day and stay home if they are showing symptoms of Covid or have traveled internationally in the last 10 days.

The studio is also conducting contact tracing and providing, upon request, Covid test kits to employees.

This comes as Morris Brown College in Atlanta reintroduced a mask mandate, in effect for two weeks, after "reports of positive cases among students in the Atlanta University Center."

Los Angeles County Public Health has recommended for higher-risk residents to wear masks, stating that Covid cases are increasing, but noted that hospitalizations from the virus remain low.