Fox News directs some employees to work remotely following multiple COVID-19 cases

Fox News executives told employees on Monday that some would be directed to work from home over the next week in response to several cases of COVID-19 confirmed at the network.

A companywide memo provided to The Hill notified employees of “recent developments of a few positive COVID-19 cases at Fox News Media,” and stated that some employees working at the company’s headquarters in midtown Manhattan would work virtually.

The decision means that some Fox News employees will not be onsite for election night coverage, instead working from their residences.

“We know this election will be like no other and it will be exciting to witness it first hand, but only those employees who are critical to that night’s production will be permitted to work from 1211,” the memo reads, referring to company’s main studios.

It wasn’t clear exactly how many cases of COVID-19 were active among Fox staffers, but the announcement comes a day after The New York Times reported that several members of the network’s on-air talent were advised to self-quarantine after exposure to a person who later tested positive for the virus while the group traveled back on a charter flight from the final presidential debate in Tennessee.

A Fox News spokesperson declined to comment on the specificities of the COVID-19 cases at the network, citing health privacy concerns.

The on-air personalities onboard the charter flight included anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, as well as co-hosts of “The Five,” Juan Williams and Dana Perino. They are expected to continue hosting their shows from home. Williams is also a contributor at The Hill.

Baier added on the Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox Radio Monday morning that he would operate from home despite testing negative for the virus several times.

“Let me just say one thing about coming back from Nashville. Somebody in proximity to us tested positive a few days later for COVID. So we’re taking all the precautions,” Baier said Monday. “I’ve tested negative three times now and I’ll be doing the show from home this week. And we’ll be in preparation for Election Day.”