Days after NBC on-air contributor Dr. Joseph Fair revealed he was lying about his infection with the Wuhan coronavirus, which the network extensively covered, NBC has refused to answer several Federalist inquiries about whether it has disciplined the virologist.
Last week, Fair relayed the results of a negative antibody test on Twitter after falling ill two months ago with what he claimed was COVID-19 despite never testing positive for the virus.
“My undiagnosed/suspected COVID illness from nearly 2 months ago remains an undiagnosed mystery,” Fair wrote. “I had myriad COVID symptoms, was hospitalized in a COVID ward & treated for COVID-related co-morbidities, despite testing negative by nasal swab.”
I was severely ill for 2 weeks, 4 days of it in critical condition, resulting in pneumonia, diffuse lung injury & 18lbs of weight loss. My path forward is a 2nd AB test, & follow-up with a pulmonologist & tropical medicine specialist in an effort to diagnose what made me so ill.
— Dr. Joseph Fair, PhD, MSPH (@curefinder) July 7, 2020
The network gave Fair’s illness generous coverage as a virus-stricken contributor even after Fair tested negative for the virus multiple times but claimed it was the “worst” he’d ever felt.
“Joining me now [is] virologist Joseph Fair, who recently recovered from COVID-19 himself,” NBC’s Chuck Todd proclaimed on a June episode of “Meet the Press.”
“Dr. Fair, let me start with you, because I would like you to share a little bit about your recovery from COVID-19. What should Americans take away from your experience?”
“I probably spent 23 out of 24 hours in bed,” Fair said, saying that even as a healthy 42-year-old he felt like the virus nearly killed him. “Those people that are young and think they’re invincible or people that just don’t think it’s going to affect them that greatly even if they do get it, I can say that my own experience was the complete opposite.”
TODAY on #MTP: NBC News Science contributor and virologist, Joseph Fair says his experience with COVID-19 was the "worst I've ever felt." @Curefinder: "I was shocked at how severe my illness got without having those underlying conditions." pic.twitter.com/WSs21LX2UF
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 15, 2020
Fair appeared on NBC and MSNBC almost a dozen times to discuss his miraculous recovery, yet neither network has issued a correction on air, and this NBC story still hasn’t been corrected days after reporting on his false illness from coronavirus. Only TODAY.com has posted this piece noting his negative antibody test result.
Fair has not appeared on either network since he made public he never had the virus, but still identifies as a science contributor with each on his Twitter bio.
