Dancing With The Stars COVID scare: Four employees test positive, Selma continues to film
Four Dancing With The Stars employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
The tests results came back after Monday night’s season 31 premiere and extra precautions have been taken as preparations for next week’s show go forward.
A spokesperson for Disney+, which produces the competition, told Deadline that the four people who were diagnosed with the virus worked in ‘completely different departments’ and did not have contact with each other based on the production’s pod system.
Meanwhile cast members such as Selma Blair, 50, who has MS, have continued to film the show.
A setback: Four Dancing With The Stars employees have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. The tests results came back after Monday night’s season 31 premiere and extra precautions have been taken as preparations for next week’s show go forward. Selma Blair continues to film; seen on Thursday in Los Angeles
More than 300 employees work on the show.
The spokesperson declared ‘the entire set has been disinfected and as an extra precaution, we asked the majority of employees to work from home.’
DWTS has been cleared by the Los Angeles county Department of Public Health to continue, ‘based on (Disney’s) strict safety protocols.’
Covid cases: Four employees associated with the show were diagnosed with Covid-19 after Monday’s Season 31 debut
Waltz: Selma, 50, and her partner Sasha Farber, waltzed their way into the hearts of the judges and audience in the debut episode, placing third
MS: Selma has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which affects feeling in her left leg
Selma, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis four years ago and has said she no longer has feeling in her left leg, has been accompanied to the set by her support dog Scout.
The A Dark Foe star set aside the cane she uses for walking to waltz her way into the hearts of the audience and judges with her partner, Sasha Farber.
The pair tied for third.
Late Thursday, the Cruel Intentions star shared video on Instagram stories from her and Sasha’s rehearsal space.
Both were lying on camp beds as the dance pro explained they had requested the cots so Selma could lie down when she gets tired. The Far More actor showed a few of her moves, and a bruise on her hip sustained from rehearsals.
Rehearsals: Selma and Sasha shared video from their rehearsals on Instagram stories. The star, who has multiple sclerosis, showed off her moves
Bruised: Selma showed off a bruise on her hip she sustained in rehearsal
Beds: Sasha and Selma posted a video in Instagram stories explaining they had requested some beds be placed in their rehearsal space so Selma could rest when she needed a break
Giudice, 50, survived the first round, but barely.
The judges were not impressed by the tango performed by the Real Housewives of New Jersey star and partner Pashkov.
The pair ended up in the bottom two, but survived to dance another day after Sex and the City star Jason Lewis was sent home.
Singer Jordin Sparks, 32, who was paired with Brandon Armstrong, was the first of the 16 contestants to hit the dance floor. Jordin and Brandon did the Cha-cha-cha to Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
Tango: The judges were not impressed by Teresa Giudice’s tango with partner Pasha Pashkov. They placed in the bottom two, but survived the elimination
Table flip: Teresa, who flipped a table over during her performance, danced the Tango to Rihanna’s song We Found Love
‘I won American Idol. I’m going to win this, too,’ Jordin declared.
‘It was clean, it was clear, it was precise,’ Len said. ‘I thought you did a fantastic job.
The judges gave them a combined score of 26 out of 40.
First up: Singer Jordin Sparks, 32, who was paired with Brandon Armstrong, was the first of the 16 contestants to hit the dance floor
Sam Champion, WABC-TV New York’s weatherman, 61, was paired with Cheryl Burke. Sam and Cheryl danced the Foxtrot to Elton John’s Tiny Dancer.
‘That was a great first dance,’ judge Derek Hough, 37, said. ‘Well done.
‘You came out with such a wonderful sunny disposition, however a few dark clouds appeared with regard to the technique,’ Len said.
Weather expert: Sam Champion, WABC-TV New York’s weatherman, 61, was paired with Cheryl Burke
The judges gave them a combined score of 20 out of 40.
Heidi D’Amelio, 50, TikTok star Charlie’s mother, paired with Artem Chigvintsev. Heidi, who shared that she had been a competitive dancer, danced the Cha-cha-cha to the song Lady Marmalade.
‘What have we got here, a red hot mama,’ Bruno said.
Competitive dancer: Heidi D’Amelio, 50, TikTok star Charlie’s mother, was paired with Artem Chigvintsev
The judges gave them a combined score of 24 out of 40.
Coda actor Daniel Durant, 42, who is deaf, was paired with dancer Britt Stewart.
‘I’m fully deaf and I’ve been that way since I was born,’ Daniel said. ‘Deaf people can’t hear music but we can feel it, and I want to show the world that deaf people can dance too!’
Deaf contestant: Coda actor Daniel Durant, 42, who is deaf, was paired with dancer Britt Stewart
Daniel and Britt danced the Tango to Barbara Streisand by Duck Sauce.
‘First Coda wins an Oscar, next I got to get a Mirrorball,’ Daniel said to the camera. ‘It will happen.’
‘That was amazing,’ Carrie Ann said.
Tango time: Daniel and Britt danced the Tango to Barbara Streisand by Duck Sauce
‘I’m really excited to see you develop as this show goes along,’ Len said.
The judges gave them a combined score of 27 out of 40.
Country singer Jessie James Decker, 34, who was partnered with Alan Bersten, danced the Cha-cha-cha to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama. Jessie wrapped her legs around Alan when she finished and received a standing ovation from the audience.
Country star: Country singer Jessie James Decker, 34, who was partnered with Alan Bersten, danced the Cha-cha-cha to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama
‘That was racier than the Kentucky Derby,’ Bruno said.
The judges gave them a combined score of 20 out of 40.
Wayne Brady, 50, paired with Witney Carson and danced the Cha-cha-cha to She’s a Bad Mama Mama. He also got a standing ovation when he finished.
Standing ovation: Wayne Brady, 50, paired with Witney Carson and danced the Cha-cha-cha to She’s a Bad Mama Mama
‘You’ve got it and you know what to do with it,’ Bruno said.
The judges gave them a combined score of 29 out of 40.
Charlie’s Angels actress Cheryl Ladd, 71, paired with Louis van Amstel and performed a Cha-cha-cha to Marvin Gaye’s song Got To Give It Up.
Angelic performance: Charlie’s Angels actress Cheryl Ladd, 71, paired with Louis van Amstel and performed a Cha-cha-cha to Marvin Gaye’s song Got To Give It Up
‘There are people on this show who could be my children,’ Cheryl said to the camera. ‘It doesn’t mean I won’t dance them right off the stage.’
‘Cheryl Ladd had swagger,’ Carrie Ann said. ‘You move your body beautifully, girl.’
‘You are still a raging angel,’ Bruno said.
Angel always: ‘You are still a raging angel,’ Bruno Tonioli said
The judges gave them a combined score of 21 out of 40.
Jersey Shore star Vinny Guadagnino, 34, paired with Koko Iwasaki and danced the Salsa to Tití Me Preguntó by Bad Bunny.
‘I don’t get it,’ Len said. ‘I’m sorry Vin I really wanted you to come out and knock my socks off and unfortunately tonight that didn’t happen.’
Reality star: Jersey Shore star Vinny Guadagnino, 34, paired with Koko Iwasaki and danced the Salsa to Tití Me Preguntó by Bad Bunny
The judges gave them a combined score of 17 out of 40.
Drag queen Shangela, 40, the first drag queen contestant on the show, paired with Gleb Savchenko. She said she would not rehearse in drag.
‘It takes about four to five hours to get the full Shangela experience,’ Shangela said.
She danced the Salsa to When I Grow Up by the Pussycat Dolls.
Drag queen: ‘It takes about four to five hours to get the full Shangela experience,’ Shangela said
‘You were fantastic,’ Derek said.
‘Thanks for being fierce and being all that you are,’ Carrie Ann said.
The judges gave them a combined score of 28 out of 40.
90210 star Trevor Donovan, 43, paired with Emma Slater and they danced the Quickstep to Billy Idol’s Dancing With Myself.
Fast dance: 90210 star Trevor Donovan, 43, paired with Emma Slater and they danced the Quickstep to Billy Idol’s Dancing With Myself
‘What a ride, I am breathless,’ Bruno said.
‘Do not be afraid to dance because you can dance,’ Carrie Ann said.
The judges gave them a combined score of 21 out of 40.
The scores: The judges gave them a combined score of 21 out of 40
Bachelorette Gabby Windey, 31, and partner Val Chmerkovskiy danced the Jive to the Harry Styles song As It Was.
‘I can sum it up in a few words, that was great,’ Len said.
‘That was the best dance of the night so far,’ Derek said.
Jive dance: Bachelorette Gabby Windey, 31, and partner Val Chmerkovskiy danced the Jive to the Harry Styles song As It Was
The judges gave them a combined score of 28 out of 40.
Fitness model and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son Joseph Baena, 24, paired with Daniella Karagach. Joseph said dancing was in his blood because he was half Latino. They two danced the Jive to Pump It by the Black Eyed Peas.
‘I like the energy that you brought to that dance,’ Len said.
Pumped up: Fitness model and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son Joseph Baena, 24, paired with Daniella Karagach
‘I really enjoyed it,’ Derek said.
The judges gave them a combined score of 23 out of 40.
The last dance of the night was TikTok star Charli D’Amelio, 18, who paired with Mark Ballas. They danced the Cha-cha-chato Savage by Megan Thee Stallion.
TikTok star: The last dance of the night was TikTok star Charli D’Amelio, 18, who paired with Mark Ballas
‘That was amazing,’ Carrie Ann said.
‘Keep it up,’ Bruno said.
The judges gave them a combined score of 32 out of 40.
The next episode is scheduled to return Monday night to Disney+ when the teams will dance to the music of Elvis Presley.