Allison Langdon announces further changes to the Today show as Nine ‘adjusts to the new normal’ amid coronavirus pandemic
The Today show was forced to quarantine 20 staff-members last week after Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson brought coronavirus into the studio.
Now, co-host Allison ‘Ally’ Langdon has revealed further changes have been made to the Today set, amid Scott Morrison’s tough new social distancing rules.
‘You might notice it’s a new look here. The show will look a little bit different as we adjust to this normal,’ the 40-year-old presenter said during Monday’s broadcast.
Allison Langdon, 40, (right) revealed new changes have been made to the Today set on Monday to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)
Ally explained that she and co-host Karl Stefanovic are now sitting in the studio used by David Campbell and Belinda Russell – who are currently in quarantine.
The TV duo sat much further apart than usual.
She also revealed that newsreader Tracy Vo won’t be appearing on the show for some time.
‘Tracey is also off the desk for a while’: Ally also revealed that newsreader Tracy Vo (pictured) won’t be appearing on the show for some time.
‘Tracey is also off the desk for a while. She’s staying at home in Perth to look after her parents during this crisis. We send her and her family our very best,’ she added.
The Today show set was thrown into chaos last Thursday when Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson revealed they tested positive to COVID-19 – days after they visited Nine’s studios.
Karl and Ally addressed the situation by taking viewers on a tour of the studio on Friday, and revealed the network was forced to buy new furniture in a bid to stop the spread of the illness.
Big changes: The Today show was forced to quarantine 20 staff-members last week after Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson brought coronavirus into the studio. Pictured: Rita Wilson (centre) with Today Extra hosts David Campbell (left) and Belinda Russell (right) last Monday
In the segment, Karl said the bosses at Channel Nine had been preparing for this ‘eventuality’ but did not expect the deadly outbreak to hit the studio so soon.
‘Effectively what they do is track Rita’s movements back first of all to her dressing-room, how many people she came in contact with her here,’ he said.
Speaking from inside the room, Ally then explained one of the first measures was to bring in new furniture.
Precautions: Karl and Ally addressed the situation by taking viewers on a tour of the studio on Friday, and revealed the network was forced to buy new furniture in a bid to stop the spread of the illness
‘They’ve come in as a consequence of what happened and replaced all the furniture. But she was exposed to about four people in here. They have all been sent off, tested,’ Ally said.
The dressing room was also sanitised.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced stricter social distancing rules on Sunday, including the closure of café and restaurant dining areas, pubs, clubs, cinemas and gyms.
As of Sunday night, there are 1,354 reported cases of coronavirus in Australia, including seven deaths.