D’Andra Simmons reveals ‘RHOD’ filming precautions amid coronavirus pandemic

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“Real Housewives of Dallas” star D’Andra Simmons is “very proud of Bravo” for how they’ve handled production amid the coronavirus pandemic, because they have “taken it very seriously.” The reality star revealed that the network put in place several precautionary measures to ensure the safety of all the cast, staff and crew while filming. She …

The reality star revealed that the network put in place several precautionary measures to ensure the safety of all the cast, staff and crew while filming.

She shared that there is a “COVID monitor” who wipes down the set before and after every scene. The “Housewives” are also expected to wear face masks at all times until they’re in the scene.

Simmons, 50, said the producers have also made sure that everyone’s houses, every set, and every location they film has been sanitized.

“We get COVID tests either weekly or biweekly, so especially now when we do go on our what our version of what a cast trip is, because you can’t really go that far, you do get COVID tests and so does the entire crew,” she added. “I think they’re being very responsible and very careful, because of course, we were thinking, ‘How are we going to do this in a pandemic?’ But it has worked, and knock on wood none of the cast has had any issues with COVID.”

Simmons said she has taken the added precaution of quarantining at home as much as possible when she doesn’t have to leave to go film.

“I literally stay in my house unless I have to go do something that is required for the show, except for a few tiny little instances because I don’t want to take any chances on contracting something and bringing it back to someone else on the cast or crew,” she said. “I take my job very seriously and I’m very grateful to have this job.”

During the pandemic, however, Simmons admits she struggled with depression.

“I was pretty depressed for a while,” she said. “My dad used to always say, ‘Pick yourself up by your bootstraps and keep on trucking,’ so that’s what I did.”

The business owner, who is the CEO of Hard Night Good Morning skincare, said it was a challenge to try to “pivot” her business during these hard times. She also focused part of her time on producing her new film, “My Brothers’ Crossing.”

“How I was going to keep my employees on the payroll is the most important thing to me,” she said. “You have to kind of just create a new reality and come up with solutions all the time to keep your business going and keep you from being down in the dumps.”

The “RHOD” star said she has worked with many spiritual healers like a Reiki master— even before the coronavirus pandemic — which have helped her do some “inner-work, reflection, meditation.”

“If you watch the show, you know that my father committed suicide and I put up a bunch of walls and I was very stern with people, not very touchy feely, not very compassionate, not very sensitive,” she said. “I was, but I didn’t want people to see that vulnerability, so I’m looking and finding that vulnerability again, which is I hope making me a softer and compassionate person.”