Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa to be tested for coronavirus after contact with Richard Wilkins
Radio hosts Ryan Fitzgerald and Michael Wipfli missed their Nova 96.9 breakfast show after coming in contact with Richard Wilkins.
Radio hosts Ryan "Fitzy" Fitzgerald and Michael "Wippa" Wipfli missed their Nova 96.9 breakfast show in Sydney on Monday morning, with the pair set to be tested for the coronavirus following Richard “Dickie” Wilkins’ positive diagnosis.
The pair and their team will be tested after coming in direct contact with Wilkins, who hosts a weekend morning show at Nova’s sister radio station, smoothfm.
It was announced on Sunday night that Wilkins, who is also entertainment editor at free-to-air television broadcaster Nine Network, has tested positive to COVID—19 after briefly meeting Tom Hanks’ wife Rita Wilson recently. The Hollywood actor and his wife have both subsequently been diagnosed with coronavirus, which has also led to program disruption at Nine’s Willoughby headquarters.
NOVA Entertainment chief programming and marketing officer Paul Jackson said all staff "who may have come into direct contact" with Wilkins, including Fitzgerald and Wipfli and their team, will be tested and self-isolate for 14 days as instructed by the Department of Health.
Kent "Smallzy" Small, who hosts Nova 96.9's weekday show from 12-3pm and national show Smallzy’s Surgery from 7-10pm, filled in for the radio hosts on Monday morning.
Mr Jackson said the breakfast team, who have Sydney's third-most popular show on the FM dial, will be equipped with technology that will allow them to broadcast from their respective homes from Tuesday.
“As part of procedures already implemented, NOVA’s studios and premises have been and will continue to be thoroughly cleaned and sterilised."
Mr Jackson also said most of the company' Sydney staff will work from home from Monday to Friday as an additional precaution.
"Our employees’ health and well-being are our highest priority, so we will continue to monitor the rapidly changing situation with Coronavirus and act accordingly in the best interests of our staff.”
NOVA’s executive chairman, Lachlan Murdoch, is also co-chairman of News Corp, publisher of The Australian.
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