Breaking:Whoopi Goldberg Returns To ‘The View’ After Covid Bout

UPDATE, July 16: Whoopi Goldberg was back in her moderator’s seat at The View today, returning after she missed last Thursday’s and Monday’s episodes after testing positive for Covid.

Goldberg, who had her usual Friday off last week, made no mention today of her latest bout with the coronavirus, thought to be her fourth go-round with the illness.

PREVIOUS July 11: The View moderator Whoopi Goldberg missed today’s episode of the ABC daytime talk show after testing positive for Covid, cohost Joy Behar announced at the top of the live broadcast.

You might have noticed Whoopi is not here,” said Behar, “because Whoopi has tested positive for Covid. You know, it’s going around still. So you have to be careful!” (Goldberg appeared later in today’s episode during a pre-taped interview with The Boys‘ Antony Starr).

Goldberg’s latest bout with Covid appears to be her fourth. In September 2023, she addressed her third run-in with the coronavirus by sending a video message to the show. “In spite of everything you’ve heard,” she said at the time, “I am not at Burning Man, I am not still in Italy, I am not trying to change the outcome of the election, I just have Covid.”

At the time, Behar addressed vax-deniers who had pointed to the vaccinated Goldberg’s illness as evidence supporting their cause. “She’s just a little under the weather,” Behar said. “If you don’t get [the vaccine] and you get the disease you might die. This type of irrational talk drives me nuts.”

Covid rates have once again been on the rise in New York, with Gov. Kathy Hochul announcing last weekend that new Covid variants have recently contributed to a slight increase in hospitalizations compared with last year at this time. “While we are well below the figures seen during the pandemic, we are closely monitoring activity regarding the latest variants,” Hochul said in a statement. “By following the guidance and taking simple precautions, New Yorkers can continue to enjoy a safe and healthy summer.”

State health officials attribute the case increase to summertime social gatherings and sweltering temperatures that drive people indoors. New vaccines from Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer will become available in coming months.