Top Fox News execs and hosts were told to quarantine after taking a private jet with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19: report

Ashley Collman
Updated ·2 min read
bret baier

  • Fox News Media President Jay Wallace and several hosts, including Bret Baier, have been told to quarantine after being exposed to the coronavirus, The New York Times reported.

  • The three were part of a group of Fox News employees who shared a private jet back to New York from last week's presidential debate in Nashville.

  • A person on that flight later tested positive for the coronavirus, two sources told the Times.

  • A Fox News spokesperson would not confirm details of the exposure due to privacy concerns, when reached for comment Monday morning.

  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The president of Fox News Media and several top hosts were told to quarantine after being exposed to the coronavirus, according The New York Times.

The Times cited two sources who spoke anonymously to the newspaper on Sunday.

They said the exposure happened on a private flight the network chartered back to New York after last week's presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee.

Someone who was on the flight later tested positive for COVID-19, the sources said.

Among the top executives and hosts on the flight were Fox News Media President Jay Wallace, chief political anchor Bret Baier, "The Story" host Martha MacCallum, as well as two hosts of "The Five" — Dana Perino and Juan Williams.

martha maccallum

Everyone on the flight was advised to quarantine or get tested for COVID-19, according to the report.

The Times reported that the hosts who were on the flight are expected to work from home for the time being.

A Fox News spokesperson would not confirm details of the exposure due to privacy concerns, when reached for comment Monday morning.

Fox has faced criticism for downplaying the seriousness of the pandemic.

In July, host Tucker Carlson said that mask-wearing has "no basis in science," the same month the CDC called on all Americans to wear face masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The CDC cited two studies which showed that wearing face masks reduced transmission of the coronavirus.

In April, the nonprofit media watchdog group Media Matters for America labeled Fox News' Sean Hannity one of the chief sources of misinformation during the pandemic.

It said his contributions ranged from "encouraging viewers to try unproven treatments to downplaying the lethality of coronavirus compared to other diseases."

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