MSNBC and NBC News spent months documenting a contributor’s coronavirus diagnosis, but it turns out that he never had the virus.
Dr. Joseph Fair, a virologist and epidemiologist, first claimed he contracted the virus on social media back in May. He had multiple TV appearances to discuss his recovery, but earlier this week, he admitted that his illness remains undiagnosed, given a negative antibody test.
“My undiagnosed/suspected COVID illness from nearly 2 months ago remains an undiagnosed mystery as a recent antibody test was negative. I had myriad COVID symptoms, was hospitalized in a COVID ward & treated for COVID-related co-morbidities, despite testing negative by nasal swab,” Dr. Fair tweeted on Tuesday. “I had myriad COVID symptoms, was hospitalized in a COVID ward & treated for COVID-related co-morbidities, despite testing negative by nasal swab.”
The Fourth Watch newsletter by Steve Krakauer documented how over the past couple of months, Fair went on TV to discuss his supposed recovery from COVID-19.
Fair, 42 at that time, claimed during a May 14 appearance on Today that he likely got the virus from taking a flight to New Orleans despite taking significant precautions, according to a story from NBC News.
“I had a mask on, I had gloves on, I did my normal wipes routine … but obviously, you can still get it through your eyes,” Fair said from his hospital bed, before suggesting that he got it through his eyes. “That’s one of the three known routes of getting this infection that we just don’t pay a lot of attention to. We tend to pay attention to the nose and mouth because that is the most common route,” he said. “But you know, droplets landing on your eyes are just as infectious.”
In the interview, Today host Hoda Kotb explained that the doctor had received four negative tests for the virus but said, “Clearly, you have it.” Fellow host Craig Melvin said the “false negative” tests are “scary,” while co-host Savannah Guthrie called it a “cautionary tale.”
Dr. Fair continued to appear on the network in May and June to discuss the undiagnosed illness.
NBC has not updated a story on its website about Dr. Fair’s false bout with the coronavirus. The network did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
