Ellen Pompeo dedicates 'Grey's Anatomy' season 17 to health care workers as cast returns to set
Production has officially resumed for "Grey's Anatomy," which is now working hard at filming season 17. Ellen Pompeo, who stars as Dr. Meredith Grey, shared a glance of what it looked like returning to the set after COVID-19 forced the previous season to wrap in early.
"First time back in my scrubs," the actress, 50, captioned a selfie of her and co-star Richard Flood, who plays Dr. Cormac Hayes, wearing N95 surgical masks and signature navy scrubs on Tuesday.
Flood, 38, was promoted from a recurring to a main character for the upcoming season.
And while returning to work was a celebratory occasion for both Flood and Pompeo, she acknowledged her experience of playing a doctor on television pales in comparison to what doctors and nurses wrestled with throughout the pandemic.
"Since we shut down filming 7000 healthcare workers have died from Covid," the actress wrote in an Instagram post.
Production on season 16 of "Grey's Anatomy" was suspended mid-March.
"I dedicate my season 17 to all who have fallen and to everyone of you who by the grace of God is still standing," Pompeo wrote. "This season is for you with humility and a bit of humor to get us through and endless amounts of gratitude."
It was previously confirmed that the upcoming season of "Grey's Anatomy" will address the ongoing pandemic in a new storyline.
While Pompeo did not disclose how the long-running medical drama plans to tackle the ongoing global health crisis, she did express, "I hope we do you proud."
At this time it is unknown when "Grey's Anatomy" will return to ABC.
