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ABC’s WLS in Chicago has told 4 of their news staffers to stay home and not come to work. ‘

Management is concerned they may have been exposed to the coronavirus.

The action was taken "out of an abundance of caution," the station said, after a WLS news crew interviewed a food service worker Monday at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights where a coronavirus patient was being treated.

The Reporter and Photog on the story are being told not to come to work. A second photographer who shook hands with the first one (during a shift change in the news van) was told not to come to work. The wife of the first photographer, who also is employed at the station, was offered the opportunity to stay home with their family and chose to do so.

All four have been tested for the virus and are waiting on the results.

The station is not releasing their names.

This brings up and interesting scenario.

WLS is an ABC O&O in the nation’s 3rd largest market. The station has a large news staff and can easily afford to have 4 news staffers stay home and not impact their on-air product.

But, what if this was a mid-market or small market station?

Losing 4 news staff would have a big impact.

As the coronavirus spreads, this same scenario could play out at other TV stations.

FTVLive was the FIRST to tell you that staff members at KCPQ (Seattle) were told to stay home and that a crew was brought in to disinfect the station.

WLS now appears to be the second station impacted and it is likely there will be more.

Stations need to plan for how they will deal with the spread of the virus. Viewers are counting on TV stations to keep them informed.

Have a plan ready now, you might just need it later.

H/T Robert Feder