Fox News declined to comment about Mr. Williams’s condition, citing employee privacy. But the network said in a statement that the hosts of “The Five” would broadcast from home studios “for the foreseeable future.”
“We will continue to take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our staff,” the statement said. It noted that the network regularly tested its on-air personalities and had mask mandates and daily health checks for all employees who entered its headquarters.
On a talk show where the opinions skew Trumpward, Mr. Williams is the liberal-leaning outlier who has often criticized President Trump’s handling of, among other matters, the coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday’s program, Mr. Williams called Mr. Watters “shameful” for advancing Mr. Trump’s debunked theories about election fraud. (“Juan sounds nervous,” Mr. Watters riposted.)
In September, “The Five” was one of the most prominent television panel shows to return to in-studio broadcasts after an extended period when the hosts worked from home. (The show’s usual large desk was replaced with separate stools for the hosts.) Several stars of “The View” on ABC, for instance, continue to work remotely. “The Talk,” a panel show on CBS, also returned to the studio in September.
Mr. Williams was among a group of Fox News stars and executives who were potentially exposed to the virus at the first presidential debate in September in Cleveland, where Mr. Trump appeared onstage days before announcing he had contracted the virus.
Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/03/business/media/fox-news-juan-williams-coronavirus.html
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