Fox News president Jay Wallace and anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum are among those recommended to get tested and quarantine after possible exposure to COVID-19, the New York Times first reported Sunday night.
The big picture: The Fox News contingent, which also included "The Five" show hosts Juan Williams and Dana Perino, were on a charter flight from Nashville to New York following Thursday's presidential debate with a person who later tested positive for the coronavirus.
- "The anchors who were affected are expected to host their shows from home for the time being," the New York Times reports.
- A Fox News spokesperson declined to confirm any details of the exposure to Axios at the time of publication, "given the need to keep private health information confidential."
What they're saying: Wallace and Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott confirmed "a few positive COVID-19 cases" in a memo sent to staff on Monday, saying that "any employee who has tested positive will be quarantining and following all of our mandatory guidelines before they enter any of our buildings."
- "Please know that we stay in close contact with those employees who have been affected and offer our complete support."
- "We will be further reducing some of the workforce in our buildings and operating virtually wherever possible throughout the week," the memo said. "We will have enhanced testing procedures in place."
Of note: "Network personnel have been serious about taking precautionary measures like wearing masks and avoiding proximity to one another, both in the studios and on the road for major events like the debates," network employees told NYT.
- "And Fox staff members on the ground in Nashville were regularly tested by the network and the Commission on Presidential Debates."
