This Tuesday, The View returned for its 27th season, but Whoopi Goldberg was not present.
During the show, co-host Joy Behar addressed Goldberg’s absence and told the audience that she has once again contracted the COVID-19 virus. “As you can see, Whoopi is not here,” Behar, 80, said. “She has COVID. It’s back!” the comedian added, referencing the rise in case numbers amid the new COVID-19 variant, called Pirola.
However, she assured everyone that she was doing okay and was recovering. “She’s on the mend,” Behar stated. “She’s on the tail-end and she’ll probably be back this week, but sorry she’s not here for those of you who were looking forward to seeing her.”
This is Goldberg’s third time with COVID. As previously reported, last year, she didn’t return to the ABC daytime talk show after its holiday break after she tested positive for COVID-19. “Since [Goldberg’s] vaxxed and boosted, her symptoms are fortunately very, very mild,” Behar shared at the time. However, she tested positive for COVID again in November.
The news about Goldberg’s diagnosis comes just a day after it was revealed that First Lady Jill Biden also tested positive for COVID-19 again. The White House said that she has “mild symptoms” and added that Biden will be “monitored by the White House medical team” and “will remain at their home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.”
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President Biden is in the clear.
“Following the First Lady’s positive test for COVID-19, President Biden was administered a COVID test this evening,” the White House said on Tuesday. “The President tested negative. The President will test at a regular cadence this week and monitor for symptoms.”
The world continues to grapple with the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Just as we were starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel, the virus seems to be making a comeback. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 15,067 new COVID patient hospitalizations for the week ending Aug. 19. That marked an 18.8% jump from the week before and a staggering 86.9% increase over the past month. However, as CBS News notes that is still down almost 61% compared to the same time last year.
The recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases serves as a reminder that our fight against this invisible enemy is far from over. However, by continuing to implement the necessary precautions, we can overcome this setback and protect our communities.