“The View” was back to filming in studio for a short time and had strict vaccination requirements for all staff. But those measures weren’t enough to keep everyone healthy.
It was announced during the January 3 show that co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin both tested positive for COVID-19 over the holiday, which forced Goldberg to skip sitting on the panel completely. The rest of the women joined via teleconference rather than going back to the set. Joy Behar stepped in as moderator in Goldberg’s absence.
“Well, they say there’s no place like home for the holidays! And that’s exactly where we are today. So, happy New Year from all of our living rooms,” Behar quipped with a laugh.
“As you can see, we’re back in boxes and doing the show remotely. Hopefully for just a week. I’m praying that it’s just a week, but you never know, because this Omicron thing is all over the place.”
Next, Behar explained why she had to step in for the normal moderator.
“Why am I here instead of Whoopi? Well, Whoopi unfortunately tested positive over the break,” the panelist continued. “But she’ll be back, probably next week. Since she’s vaxxed and boosted, her symptoms have been very mild. We’re being super cautious here at ‘The View,’ and we’ll be checking with her soon, so you’ll see Whoopi too.”
The other co-hosts went on to document their own experiences with COVID-19 over the holidays. Sunny Hostin said she tested positive right before Christmas and had to spend the holiday alone. “I was isolated alone, I FaceTimed with my family for Christmas and New Year’s,” Hostin shared. “It was extremely difficult.”
Ana Navarro, who lost her mother recently, told the audience how her father had to miss his scheduled visit because of testing positive. “Since losing my mom wasn’t enough, and having Christmas 10 days later wasn’t enough, my father tested positive for COVID and wasn’t able to come for Christmas or my birthday,” Navarro said.
She continued, “I got stuck with rentals and linens for 20 people and a catered meal for 20 people that’s been exploding out of my refrigerator,” Navarro said. “Here’s the good news: my father finally tested negative for COVID and was able to fly in New Year’s Day.”
These infections of the vaccinated come weeks after “The View” hosts shut down Jedidiah Bila for saying that anyone can get or transmit COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status.
Bila was discussing how she disagreed with vaccine mandates and then said that the existing COVID-19 vaccine “does not prevent you from getting COVID and does not prevent you from transmitting COVID.”
“Oh my goodness!” Behar exclaimed. “No, that’s not so. You’ve been at Fox TV too long,” which made the audience applaud. After the appearance, Bila posted a clip of CDC director Rochelle Walensky acknowledging that “breakthrough infections” of COVID-19 for fully vaccinated people are possible.