Channel Nine removes Tracy Grimshaw from A Current Affair broadcast amid coronavirus fears – as Karl Stefanovic steps up to replace her
Channel Nine is taking drastic measures after Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson announced they’d tested positive for Coronavirus.
On Thursday, the network confirmed Tracy Grimshaw, 59, won’t appear on Thursday’s broadcast of A Current Affair amid COVID-19 fears.
It comes three days after Rita visited Channel Nine’s Sydney studios for an interview with Today Extra.
Tracy Grimshaw, 59, (pictured) has officially been removed from Thursday’s broadcast of A Current Affair to protect her from catching the deadly virus
During her visit, Rita used Tracy’s dressing room.
A spokesperson from Nine said on Thursday: ‘Tracy Grimshaw is not hosting ACA [A Current Affair] tonight as a precautionary measure since she had minor surgery last week.’
‘Karl Stefanovic will host in her place. Arrangements for hosts for Today Extra are still being confirmed.’
Karl Stefanovic, 45, (pictured) will step in to replace Tracy as the host of A Current Affair on Thursday night
In the statement, Nine said that staff-members who came into ‘prolonged contact’ with Rita are self-isolating for two weeks.
‘Our premises is currently being thoroughly cleaned in all areas she visited and we are encouraging our employees to monitor their health and practise good hygiene,’ the statement read.
Daily Mail Australia understands Tom was also present on set when his wife was being interviewed.
David and his Today Extra co-host Belinda Russell (right), who was also on the panel when they interviewed Rita (centre) on Monday, are both taking precautionary measures
Daily Mail Australia understands Tom was also present on set when Rita was being interviewed
After chatting to Rita on Today Extra, David thanked her for the interview and performance
Television presenters David Campbell and Belinda Russell, who interviewed Rita on Monday, will both be getting tested for coronavirus and self-isolating for two weeks.
Tom and Rita tested positive for coronovirus on Thursday (AEST) while the Oscar-winning actor was filming a movie on the Gold Coast.
Tom revealed on Instagram on Thursday that he and his wife experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested.
Tom and Rita (pictured on 13 November 2015) tested positive for coronovirus on Thursday while the Oscar-winning actor was filming a movie on the Gold Coast
He wrote: ‘Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive.
‘Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?
‘We’ll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves! Hanx!’
Tom also shared a picture of what appears to be a medical waste basket and a latex glove in a hospital.
Tom revealed on Instagram on Thursday that he and Rita experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested
Tom also shared this picture of what appears to be a medical waste basket in a hospital