The current wave of Covid-19, the Omicron variant, is beginning to impact television, with several presenters reporting positive test results.
Likely the highest profile so far, Late Late Show presenter James Corden has tested positive for Covid-19, forcing CBS to put the show onto a temporary hiatus.
Corden posted on his instagram account that “I just tested positive for Covid-19. I’m fully vaccinated, boosted, and because of this, am fortunate enough to say I feel completely fine.”
Seth Meyers, the host of “Late Night” has also tested positive for Covid-19, as has NBC Today host Hoda Kotb.
Over at Fox News, both Steve and his son, Peter Doocy have both confirmed that they have tested positive for Covid-19. Steve Doocy said; “We gathered together as a family … a lot of people trade gifts. We traded Omicron.”
“The tell was … what Omicron does is … remember Delta hits you in the chest. Omicron hits you right in the throat.
“I wound up calling my ENT doctor and he said, ‘you probably have Omicron.’ So, they did some tests, and sure enough, after waiting in line 5 hours, they said, ‘you know what? You’ve got Omicron.”
Yesterday, News on News reported that CNBC’s Shepard Smith also tested positive for Covid-19, although he continues to broadcast from his home studio.
Meanwhile, this years Grammys have been indefinitely postponed as a result of the virus.
It’s an outright certainty that more television channels, shows and indeed the people behind them will be affected by the latest Covid-19 outbreak around the world before the peak of the infection is reached.
It is not just in the United States where there are issues in the industry with infections and self-isolation. Across Europe, record numbers of daily infections are being reported in multiple countries.
Of those affected, the worst so far include France and in the UK.