Sunrise viewers were quick to notice Natalie Barr was missing from the Channel Seven breakfast show on Thursday morning.
Instead, Weekend Sunrise host Monique Wright presented the show with Matt Shirvington, who has been filling in this week for David ‘Kochie’ Koch, who is currently recovering from COVID-19.
Unlike her co-host, Barr hasn’t tested positive for the virus, but is simply feeling “unwell” and spending a day in bed.
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Speaking at the start of the show on Monday, Monique said: “Good morning, welcome to Thursday, great to have your company.”
“They’re dropping like flies here at Sunrise!
“First of course, Kochie had COVID, the good news is he’s recovering at home and doing really well.”
Shirvington then explained that Nat had taken a sick day as she is “unwell,” but thankfully, is currently “testing negative” for COVID.
“Do you remember the old head cold? That still exists apparently.”
“Rest up Nat, hopefully you’ll be back tomorrow,” he said.
Kochie has been isolating at home this week after being diagnosed with COVID following the star-studded Australia Unites telethon.
The Channel Seven star attended the Red Cross Flood Appeal on Saturday night and woke up feeling “shaggy” the next morning, he revealed.
“I tested negative on Saturday lunchtime ahead of the Australia Unites broadcast but then woke up feeling a bit shaggy on Sunday morning, which I initially put down to the late finish and sharing the bottle of red wine that Sylvia and Dr Chris insisted we share (that’s my version and I’m sticking with it),” Kochie said in a statement.
“But then I tested again and it came in positive. Symptoms are mild and I’m following the health orders.”
Kochie said his wife Libby, who is a registered nurse, has been looking after him while he bounces back at home.
“She has me under very strict conditions,” he told Daily Telegraph in an interview from iso.
“She is dosing me up with everything from olive leaf extract through to high performance vitamin C to Codral and saying these are the boundaries that you can walk and can’t walk and you wear a mask so I am very well organised.”
Kochie said that he and Libby and sleeping in different rooms as she is still negative.
“We’ve been married 43 years so that is not unusual,” he admitted.
“People are stunned when I say that but I have to get up at 3.30am every morning. During the week we do sleep in separate rooms.
“She is a snorer so it is just easier.”
Source: 7News