ITV has suspended filming on Coronation Street and Emmerdale due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Production on the two flagship soaps has been stopped with immediate effect in order to curb the potentially deadly COVID-19 spread.
Show bosses feel that the time has now come to stop filming.
An ITV spokeswoman said: "ITV has sadly taken the decision to suspend production of the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale with effect from Monday 23 March.
"We’ve been doing our best to carry on filming, whilst adhering to the government’s latest health guidelines, to ensure we’ve episodes of both soaps airing on ITV until at least the early summer.
"However, the health and well-being of the production teams, actors, crew and their families is of paramount importance to us and we now feel that the time has come to stop filming."
They added: "We’d like to thank our viewers for their support and hope they continue to enjoy both soaps in the coming months.“
This week TV bosses announced a temporary change to the transmission pattern of Coronation Street and its rural sister soap Emmerdale due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
From Monday, March 30, instead of the usual six episodes, screened as a double bill, Corrie will be rationed to three episodes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7.30pm.
Emmerdale will be screened Monday to Friday at 7pm, losing its Thursday double helping.
Corrie, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, will continue to be filmed at Trafford Wharf, and Emmerdale in Leeds.
Coronation Street chiefs had banned kissing scenes in a bid to tackle coronavirus spreading on set.
Bosses are aiming to continue shooting episodes of the soap, but ‘limit physical contact.’
Before Friday night's double bill Coronation Street fans were informed that scenes set inside the Rovers Return and 'other communal areas' were filmed weeks before the coronavirus shutdown.
An ITV announcer explained that 'a lot had changed' since scenes were filmed in the iconic Weatherfield boozer and Roy's Rolls cafe.
ITV reminded people to follow government guidance and health advice in the light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The announcer said: "As the show is filmed many weeks in advance and a lot has changed in that time episodes will continue to feature scenes set in the Rovers and other communal areas.
"Please remember to follow recent government guidance and health advice."
Only a couple of hours earlier Prime Minister Boris Johnson collectively told cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants to close tonight 'as soon as they reasonably can.'
