A group of contestants in the German edition of the reality show “Big Brother,” who have been cut off for over a month from the outside world and the spread of COVID-19, were told on Tuesday night’s episode about the coronavirus pandemic, according to CNN.
Contestants entered the “Big Brother” house on February 6 — a point in time before the coronavirus had spread far beyond China, according to CNN
Producers on the show had not updated the remaining participants on the events of the outside world, even telling four new contestants who joined the show on March 6 not to tell anyone else about the pandemic, Time magazine reported.
However, due to growing criticism of the decision, the show decided to inform the contestants during a live broadcast on Tuesday evening, according to Time.
The situation in Germany and the world has changed drastically since the contestants went into the “Big Brother” house in early February. Germany currently has nearly 7,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and fourteen deaths. Chancellor Angela Merkel has closed clubs, bars, playgrounds and other public spaces across the country, according to BBC.
The casts of “Big Brother” in other countries have already been informed of the coronavirus outbreak, including in Australia and Canada, BBC reported.
The German cast was informed in the live episode by the show’s host, Jochen Schropp, and physician Andreas Kaniewski, according to Variety.
According to the network that broadcasts the German “Big Brother,” SAT.1, the contestants would be able to ask questions during the episode and also receive video messages from family members.
“The health and well-being of ‘Big Brother’ Housemates is our priority,” read a statement issued by “Big Brother” producers Endemol Shine on Tuesday, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “All current productions were informed last week that the usual format rules regarding outside news do not apply in this instance, and it was requested that they inform their respective housemates of the evolving situation regarding COVID-19. The majority of Housemates have already been briefed, and this process will be complete today [March 17].”