Rebecca Maddern tests NEGATIVE for coronavirus and returns to work on Australian Ninja Warrior… after being forced to self-isolate after contact with Richard Wilkins
Rebecca Maddern has tested negative for coronavirus and has been allowed to return to work on Australian Ninja Warrior.
She had been forced into self-isolation earlier this week after her Weekend Today colleague Richard Wilkins was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Sunday.
The 42-year-old sports reporter shared the news on Instagram on Wednesday.
Back in the saddle: Rebecca Maddern has tested negative for coronavirus and has been allowed to return to work on Australian Ninja Warrior
‘Coronavirus update: Just got a negative test result!!!! Ninja Warrior here we come! And I love @richardwilkins again,’ she wrote.
A Nine spokesperson said on Tuesday that Rebecca had gone into self-quarantine as a safety precaution after coming into contact with Richard, 65, on set last week.
‘As a precaution and even though she is showing no symptoms we took the advice and she is isolating until test results have been returned,’ they said.
Precaution: Rebecca (right) was forced into self-isolation earlier this week after Weekend Today colleague Richard Wilkins (left) was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Sunday.
Rebecca tested negative in time for Australian Ninja Warrior’s season four finale, which is scheduled to be recorded March 28 and 30
It comes after Richard revealed on the Today show on Monday that he felt ‘guilty and embarrassed’ by the fact he may have passed the virus on to others.
The entertainment reporter, who was speaking via FaceTime, said he was feeling ‘surprisingly very well’ and hadn’t yet experienced any symptoms.
Confirmation: Rebecca took to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal she had tested negative to coronavirus and was excited to get back on-set to film the new season of Australian Ninja Warrior
It’s understood symptoms may not show for every person who contracts COVID-19, but these individuals can still be carriers of the disease.
Richard’s son Christian, 24, spent Sunday night self-isolating with his Dancing with the Stars dance partner, Lily Cornish.
They were both tested for coronavirus on Monday and the other DWTS competitors have been urged to self-monitor for symptoms.
Christian confirmed on Thursday he had also tested negative for coronavirus.
‘It could be from anyone’: While it’s impossible to know with 100 per cent certainty where Richard caught the virus from, he did briefly meet singer Rita Wilson backstage at her Sydney Opera House concert on March 7 (pictured)
While it’s impossible to know with 100 per cent certainty where Richard caught the virus from, he did briefly meet singer Rita Wilson backstage at her Sydney Opera House concert on March 7.
Rita and her husband, actor Tom Hanks, tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.
Globally there have been more than 181,000 cases of coronavirus, with the death toll already surpassing 7,000.
In Australia, the first reported case of COVID-19 occurred in January.
As of Thursday morning, there are 568 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country.
Pandemic: As of Thursday morning, there are 568 cases of coronavirus in Australia