A slew of Fox News programs have begun implementing “social distancing” during their on-air programming in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Top health officials have urged people to avoid large crowds and areas such as restaurants, bars, and rallies where large numbers of people congregate to slow the spread of the disease while remaining at least 6 feet away from others.
The news network began implementing the distance recommendation during Monday’s edition of Outnumbered. Typically, the set design includes a large couch where the four female panelists with the “one lucky guy” sit, but on Monday, only Harris Faulkner and Melissa Francis were on the couch, sitting far apart from one another, while the other three were filmed at other locations.
“We are about to connect with you, all of you, in a way that respects what we are all experiences in one way or another. The coronavirus pandemic has all of us adjusting,” Faulkner said in the show’s opening.
Francis added: “So, we’re practicing what we preach. We’re sitting 6 feet apart here on the Outnumbered couch.”
The Five also practiced social distancing on Monday.
Only two of the hosts, Dana Perino and Greg Gutfeld, were seated in their normal studio, while Jesse Watters, who recently acknowledged he took the virus too lightly, and Juan Williams were seated across from one another in a different studio. Lisa “Kennedy” Montgomery was alone in a third location.
“As you can see, we are doing things a little bit differently today and going forward. As much as we love sitting elbow to elbow, and we mean that sincerely, we want to set a good example for everyone and practice physical distancing,” Perino said.
Gutfeld took the opportunity to defend the safeguards meant to protect people.
“I would prefer to look back and be wrong and look back and be foolish, then think about, ‘Oh, I didn’t do enough.’ So, I’m willing to bite the bullet now, peel that Band-aid off. And you may never know if your overreaction helped, and the people who underreacted are going to gloat and say, ‘See, it was no big deal at all,’” he said.
On Tuesday, Fox & Friends morning hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade were seated in three separate areas.
There have been around 185,000 confirmed coronavirus cases around the world, 80,000 recoveries, and 7,330 deaths, according to the latest reading by the Johns Hopkins University tracker. In the United States, there have been 4,660 cases, 17 recoveries, and 85 deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends social distancing, along with good hygiene, to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Other newsrooms have had to deal with confirmed coronavirus cases or exposure to someone who has tested positive for the virus.
For instance, on Monday, it was revealed Al Roker and Craig Melvin were taken off NBC’s Today show after a staffer tested positive. The company told all members of the third hour of Today’s editorial team they need to work from home.
