Update!

Ryan Seacrest Returns to Live With Kelly Ripa After Testing Negative for Coronavirus

After being absent from Live on Tuesday, Oct. 20, Ryan Seacrest has learned the results of his coronavirus test.

By Samantha Schnurr Oct 21, 2020 4:35 PMTags

UPDATE: Ryan Seacrest is back on TV after testing negative for coronavirus.

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the host returned to Live With Kelly and Ryan to explain his absence. "Thank you for covering," Seacrest said to co-host Kelly Ripa. "Following strict protocol, got the negative test results for COVID. Makes you feel very good."

Ripa assured her pal, "I didn't have any doubts."

____

2020 has given new meaning to the phrase, "The show must go on."

Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, people have faced a variety of new hurdles in their daily life—and Hollywood is no different. With new protocols in place to combat the spread of the illness, work is a bit trickier these days, including shooting a daytime talk show. While practically every show has bid farewell to having a full audience, other standards have been set for getting into the building at all—just ask Ripa and Seacrest. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Ripa kicked off Live solo, but it wasn't long before she addressed the absence of her co-host. 

"Ryan is out today," she told viewers. "Out of an abundance of caution, we are waiting—he had a COVID test and we're just waiting for the results." She noted there are "all of these new restrictions now," including that they have to wait for negative test results to be able to get into the studio. 

"You're welcome, everyone," she quipped before putting jokes aside. "We take it seriously—it's public health."

photos
Kelly Ripa Through the Years

Fortunately, there's nothing to worry about when it comes to Seacrest. As the show's Instagram account later announced, "UPDATE: Great news.. test came back and he's negative! Ryan will be back tomorrow!" However, Seacrest has not yet publicly commented. 

It's hard to believe it's already been seven months since the TV pair first tackled hosting the show separately and virtually from home as the pandemic reached new heights in the United States back in late March. Then, following many more months of remote shows, the two returned to the studio—six feet apart, of course—in early Sept. to kick off their 33rd season. 

ABC ENTERTAINMENT

Despite their newly distanced desk, the magic of television allowed the hosts to appear much closer together thanks to a split-screen effect. "It looks like we're next to each other," Seacrest acknowledged during their first show back. "That's pretty good magic, [Michael] Gelman."

Thankfully, the magic can continue when Seacrest returns on Wednesday. 

This article was originally published on Tue, Oct 20, 2020, 10:45 a.m.

Latest News