The coronavirus has continued to spread, affecting almost everything including workplaces, schools and the government. Television studios can now be added to the list.
Walt Disney Television announced on Wednesday that “Live With Kelly and Ryan,” “The View” and “The Tamron Hall Show” will go without live studio audiences until further notice as a result of the growing concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
A spokesperson told TVLine:
“Given the current developing situation in New York City, we have made the decision to suspend live audiences from attending our news broadcasts and talk shows.”
“The View,” co-host Whoopi Goldberg said during the show, “For the first time ever… We made the decision not to have a studio audience. This is unprecedented. This has never happened on ‘The View’ before.”
Watch the statement below
The coronavirus situation is still developing and for the first time ever at @TheView, we made the decision not to have a studio audience. We look forward to our fans returning to join us in the studio in the future! pic.twitter.com/BNXK098W0s
— The View (@TheView) March 11, 2020
“The View” tweeted, “We look forward to our fans returning to join us in the studio in the future!”
“Live With Kelly and Ryan” also shared a video showing the lack of a live audience.
The show tweeted, “Company decision… No audience today… but that won’t stop us.”
Company decision… No audience today..but that won’t stop us pic.twitter.com/Rwm8vgaGQo
— KellyMarkLive (@kellymarklive) March 11, 2020
Popular game shows including “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune” reportedly decided to also tape episodes without live audiences indefinitely.
Decisions to forgo a live audience extend past the television studio stage and all the way to the debate stage.
The Democratic National Committee recently (DNC) announced that the Democratic debate in Phoenix, Ariz., will have no live audience due to coronavirus concerns, as IJR previously reported.
Concern over the virus has grown among lawmakers, including Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) who recently reportedly suggested in a meeting that members should leave Washington, D.C., and return to their districts, as IJR previously reported. Pelosi advised against that, saying, “We are the captains of the ship. We are the last to leave.”
According to CNN, the coronavirus has infected more than 115,800 worldwide, including at least 1,000 in the U.S. It has killed more than 4,200 across the globe. The World Health Organization has also declared it a pandemic.