Grey's Anatomy has announced that they're ending season 16 early in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The show's executive producers Krista Vernoff, Debbie Allen, and James D. Parriot released a letter explaining their decision.
To Our Incredible Cast and Crew:Out of an abundance of caution, production is postponed on Grey’s Anatomy effective immediately. We are going home now for at least two weeks and waiting to see how the coronavirus situation evolves.
This decision was made to ensure the health and safety of the whole cast and crew and the safety of our loved ones outside of work, and it was made in accordance with Mayor Garcetti’s suggestion that we not gather in groups of more than 50.
Stay safe, stay healthy, stay hydrated, stay home as much as possible, and wash your hands frequently. Please take care of yourselves and each other. As updates come in, we will keep you informed.
Thank you for all that you do!
Krista, Debbie, & James
The season will end with its 21st episode, and will not return again until next fall for season 17. Since the show is ending early, they have a surplus of equipment that hospitals in the area desperately need. Both Grey's Anatomy and Station 19 will be donating masks, gloves, and gowns to local fire stations and doctors.
"At 'Station 19,' we were lucky enough to have about 300 of the coveted N95 masks which we donated to our local fire station. They were tremendously grateful. At 'Grey’s Anatomy,' we have a back-stock of gowns and gloves which we are donating as well," Vernoff told Good Morning America in a statement. "We are all overwhelmed with gratitude for our healthcare workers during this incredibly difficult time, and in addition to these donations, we are doing our part to help them by staying home."
These shows aren't the only people helping out, either. Fox's The Resident donated an abundance of personal protective equipment to the Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Dr. Karen Law, a rheumatologist at Grady, shared the donation on her Instagram page.
"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."To the entire team @theresidentonfox, thank you for this incredibly generous donation of #PPE from your set, including gowns, masks, gloves, and all the things our healthcare workers need to provide safe care for our community during #COVID19. .
Yesterday, I had a serious discussion with the residents about how, though supplies are low, a magical shipment of masks is unlikely to arrive. And yet, a magical shipment of masks DID arrive, in the form of this very generous gesture. This kind of community support means so much to our #frontlineproviders who are making many sacrifices to staff our hospitals and care for our community..
Thank you, @theresidentonfox and @foxtv for being helpers. We needed this kind of good news today..
PS: Sorry it's not a great pic, but the focus was not on the photo at the time. Similarly, the team @theresidentonfox are good citizens doing good deeds and not looking for a shout out. Though I encourage all to support The Resident and the great team behind the show and to pay their good deed forward any way you can. .#Hurstlife#residentlife#emoryIMresidents#lookforthehelpers#gratitude
There is currently a shortage of PPE across the country, leaving medical workers in dangerous positions as they try to stop the spread of COVID-19. Scott Steiner, CEO of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia, told ABC News that his team has done through "six months of personal protective equipment in just seven days." They're using and discarding of more than 3,000 masks each day.