Ellen Pompeo on possible COVID-19 episode in 'Grey's Anatomy'

Los Angeles: Actress Ellen Pompeo has opened up about the possibility of a coronavirus episode of the popular show "Grey's Anatomy", saying she has thought about it.

For 16 seasons, Pompeo has played the role of Dr Meredith Grey in the show. The coronavirus pandemic has the production of her ABC medical drama to a standstill. The makers were not able to shoot the last four episodes for season 16, reports variety.com.

Asked if there will be an episode of "Grey's Anatomy" that deals with the coronavirus, Pompeo said: "I don't know. I thought about it."

"Obviously, we don't want to get too political here, but I was just watching the news and I saw a clip of Barack Obama in 2014, saying that a pandemic was inevitable and that we should be prepared for it. And then in 2014, the Republicans were not granting him the budget, the access to put together what he felt like he needed to keep the American people safe, is how he put it in his words. So, in 2014, Obama was very well aware that this was going to happen and very well aware that we needed to be more prepared than we were at that time for it. The fact that five years later we're not prepared, some people dropped the ball for sure. It's disappointing," she added.

She is very vocal on Instagram and celebrates doctors and nurses, while encouraging people to stay at home.

"I have to keep reminding myself this every day, and I have small kids, and it's really more challenging for the children to understand it because they don't have the perspective that we have. But as hard as we think it is to stay in and not see our friends and not go out, even if the weather is beautiful, I get it. But my goodness, can you imagine having to suit up -- hopefully, suit up, hopefully, you have the PPE to suit up -- and walk straight into a hospital every single day and deal with sick person, after sick person, after sick person? We don't know sacrifice," she said.

The actress continued: "Sitting in our houses, being bored, not having anything to do, being alone and loneliness is a real thing, and I don't certainly want to downplay that. And I don't want to also downplay people financially struggling. There's a lot of fallout from this in all areas.

"Our healthcare professionals, the fact that they're fighting this fight unprepared without the proper gear is really heartbreaking for me. When people are struggling, if you're struggling, I think it's always helpful to think of someone else and think of what you could do for someone else."