"As soon as we found out, she rushed home to rest up," anchor Jones added.
During her morning shift TODAY's anchor, Savannah Guthrie tested positive for COVID. The anchor abruptly left the segment of the show early on February 28. Sheinelle Jones then came and announced the results of her positive test live on air during the 8 a.m. segment of the program. "By the way, it has been an interesting morning for us," Jones began, per PEOPLE. "As we said, Savannah left early, she wasn't feeling great, so she took a COVID test. It came back positive." Jones added, "So, as soon as we found out, she rushed home to rest up. So Savannah, we love you, and wish you a speedy recovery."
Savannah Guthrie had to leave the show this morning after testing positive for COVID-19 during the live TODAY broadcast. pic.twitter.com/6TYJlr0bs5
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 28, 2023
The 51-year-old Guthrie, who is fully vaccinated, has missed a TODAY show before due to a positive COVID test. The TODAY co-anchor had a COVID test in May 2022 and was told to remain at home for five days to isolate. The positive COVID test was her second of the year. She phoned TODAY at the time from her home and shared that she "just had a little cold." Savannah stated she took advantage of the time to sleep, read, watch TV, and complete some "organization projects" and chores. Savannah, who has gotten both a COVID vaccination and a booster shot, first tested positive for the disease in January 2022.
Many people who are fans of the TODAY show have been sending wishes to Al Roker, who recently recovered from serious complications arising from COVID. Roker could be seen backing away from Jones as Jones delivered the news until he was no longer in the frame. "Where are you going? Where you headed," show co-host Carson Daly asked the legendary weatherman and anchor. "Luckily Sheinelle was sitting between me and Savannah," Roker joked.
I hope @TODAYshow & his physician team takes Al Roker’s exposure very seriously. He’s had significant C-19 related complications, including pulmonary embolism, and reinfection could be high risk- as it is in some with #LongCovid. Hope all get, & stay well. https://t.co/KewFFBHNWJ
— Dr. Alice 💕 (@calirunnerdoc) February 28, 2023
Guthrie's news also comes a week since the 58-year-old Hoda Kotb has been notably absent from the show. Hoda Kotb has been absent from the NBC morning programs TODAY and Today with Hoda and Jenna for the past week, per the Deadline.
The TV presenter last appeared with co-host Jenna Bush Hager in the fourth hour of Today on February 20. But because it aired on Presidents Day, the segment was pre-recorded.
Kotb has been replaced by other Today hosts while she is away. Today’s third-hour co-host Craig Melvin and World News Tonight anchor Tom Llamas have filled in for her on the main show next to Savannah Guthrie, while Willie Geist and Sheinelle Jones have filled in for her for the fourth hour with Bush Hager.
Savannah Guthrie leaves 'Today' in middle of broadcast after testing positive for COVID
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) February 28, 2023
Meanwhile, Hoda Kotb, Guthrie’s co-anchor, has been missing in action for more than a week.https://t.co/nLrfIiE5FS
References:
https://www.today.com/health/coronavirus/savannah-guthrie-covid-19-live-today-broadcast-rcna72647
https://people.com/tv/savannah-guthrie-leaves-today-early-after-testing-positive-covid/
https://deadline.com/2023/02/hoda-kotbs-absence-today-continues-nbc-1235273684/
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Jamie McCarthy
