Game of Thrones veteran and The Witcher star Kristofer Hivju has tested positive for the novel Wuhan coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Hivju is now in self-isolation in Norway after the diagnosis.
According to Deadline, Hivju was in the middle of filming for the Netflix original The Witcher’s second season when he tested positive which has ground production to a halt. Hivju had recently been cast as Nivellen, a man cursed with a monstrous appearance.
The Witcher’s first season premiered December 2019 on Netflix and has quickly cemented itself as a flagship series. Based on the novels of the same name by Andrej Sapkowski, it features the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, a magically enchanted monster-hunter as he traverses “The Continent” (The world that the story takes place in).
Netflix has shut down production entirely for two weeks as a precautionary measure against the virus. According to Netflix in an email to the crew, “We paused production prior to becoming aware of this, but as a further precaution we will be closing production offices and Arborfield immediately and arranging for deep cleaning and disinfection.” The cast has also been recommended that they self-quarantine for at least 14 days.
According to Hivju on his Instagram account, he is doing relatively well with only minor symptoms. However, he urged his followers to be cautious of the virus. He encourages them to practice social distancing and for them to do anything they can to keep the virus from spreading.
It’s currently unknown when the series will resume production. However, updates will be released as the story develops.