CBS New York Forced to Broadcast From LA Due to Coronavirus

Pat Harvey of KCBS in Los Angeles anchors the WCBS news because of coronavirus. (Credit: Twitter)

WCBS-TV’s 11 p.m. newscast was broadcast from Los Angeles Thursday night after the company shut down its New York offices because three staffers tested positive for coronavirus.

The Twitter account for the news assignment desk at sister station KCBS tweeted video Thursday night of Los Angeles anchor Pat Harvey filling in for her New York counterparts.

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“Good evening everyone, I’m Pat Harvey sitting in tonight in L.A. for Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson,” Harvey said at the start of the show.

“The CBS Broadcast Center in New York is being disinfected because of three reported cases of coronavirus. Both Maurice and Kristine are fine, and the CBS 2 reporters are in the field bringing you the news from your neighborhood,” she added.

Earlier in the week, CBS said all staffers at its New York broadcast center and the CBS News building on 57th Street in the city were instructed to work remotely after two employees tested positive for the coronavirus.

“Two CBS News employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, Susan Zirinsky says in email to staff; employees in the CBS Broadcast Center and CBS News building at 555 West 57th Street will work remotely while the buildings are cleaned and disinfected,” the company tweeted Wednesday. A day later,  the number of infected people had climbed to three.

As CBS tries to get control of the situation, DeMarco Morgan, who normally hosts KCBS’ morning and 11 a.m. newscasts here in Los Angeles, anchored WCBS’ Thursday shows at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET.

Morgan alerted viewers, tweeting: “NEW YORKERS and TRISTATE…TUNE in TONIGHT and Watch at 5pm and 6pm on CBS2. I’ll be anchoring the local evening news for CBS New York…. Get Complete Coverage on the #Coronavirus Crisis with everything you need to know. Helping out our fam at CBS2NY.”