Coronavirus: Fox News hosts make light of pandemic with on-air ‘social distancing’ send-up

Mocking of prevention measure comes as Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends keeping at least 2 metres away from other people

The hosts of Fox News programme Fox & Friends First have made fun of the “social distancing” measures recommended by numerous medical professionals to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

In a segment on Friday, hosts Todd Piro and Rob Schmitt were filmed entering the set of the show while jostling, with Mr Piro holding his elbow up and elbowing his co-host in greeting as they walked in.

He then put both his elbows up and appeared to squat slightly while jokingly tapping elbows with the other two hosts, Jillian Mele and Kurt Knutsson.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention advised the general public to practice social distancing, which means avoiding large crowds and mass gatherings and maintaining at least 2 metres (6 feet) of distance from other people wherever possible.

The coronavirus outbreak in the US has infected 1,215 people, with 26 deaths.

Fox News has been criticised for not taking the outbreak seriously and airing misinformation and poor advice surrounding the outbreak, reported Mediaite.

In one live interview with prominent evangelical leader Jerry Falwell Jr., the avid Trump supporter shared what appeared to be a conspiracy theory that North Korea and China were in cahoots in spreading the virus to the US.

He said: “The owner of a restaurant asked me last night. He said, ‘do you remember the North Korean leader promised us a Christmas present for America? Back in December’.

“Could it be they got together with China and this is that present? I don’t know. But it really is something strange going on.”

None of the hosts of Fox & Friends questioned Mr Falwell’s theory.

Another host, Ainsley Earhardt, said on Friday that it is now “the safest time to fly” as more and more people avoid travelling abroad.

She said: “It’s actually the safest time to fly. Everyone I know that’s flying right now, terminals are pretty much dead. Ghost towns.

“And then the planes — remember back in the day when you had next to you, a seat, possibly, empty, you could stretch out a little more? It’s like that on every flight now.”

Her advice directly contradicts a travel advisory from the US State Department warning Americans to reconsider travelling abroad.

The global health advisory issued said: “Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing Covid-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveller mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions.

“Even countries, jurisdictions, or areas where cases have not been reported may restrict travel without notice.”