NBC News spent weeks documenting its science contributor’s (@curefinder) battle with COVID-19, but now he admits that he never tested positive for it. https://t.co/xSnuZOvyjk
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 10, 2020
Well, thank God he recovered.
Brian Williams: "I was sick too!"
So was Dan Rather. He showed me a copy of the note from his Mom.
[Federalist] After NBC News extensively followed the COVID-19 case of its own on-air contributor Dr. Joseph Fair, the virologist and epidemiologist revealed he tested negative for coronavirus as well as negative for the WuFlu antibodies, meaning he never had the virus."Joining me now [is] virologist Joseph Fair, who recently recovered from COVID-19 himself," the network’s Chuck Todd said introducitng the doctors on a June episode of "Meet the Press."
"Dr. Fair, let me start with you because I would like you to share a little bit about your recovery from COVID-19. What should Americans take away from your experience?" Todd asked.
After telling viewers he was a healthy 42-year-old absent of any underlying conditions, Fair characterized the illness as "the worst I’ve ever felt."
"I probably spent 23 our of 24 hours in bed," said Fair. "Those people that are young and think they’re invincible or people that just don’t think it’s going to affect them that greatly even if they do get it, I can say that my own experience was the complete opposite."
Fair however, had already tested negative for the virus at least five times according to Steve Krakauer of the Fourth Watch Newsletter and said this week his illness from two months ago "remains an undiagnosed mystery" following the results of a negative antibody test.
"I had myriad COVID symptoms, was hospitalized in a COVID ward & treated for COVID-related co-morbidities, despite testing negative by nasal swab," Fair told followers on Twitter.
Despite having appeared on NBC and MSNBC almost a dozen times to discuss his recovery from the virus, neither network has still released a correction on air. As Krakauer points out, this story about Fair's illness still has yet to be corrected.
Fair said he planned to take another antibody test.
NBC News did not immediately respond to The Federalist's request for comment.
