Coronavirus: BBC News presenter blames coughing fit on ‘dust’ to reassure viewers
Carrie Gracie was struggling with a nasty cough during a special segment on coronavirus questions – but insisted she did not have a temperature
A BBC News presenter had to reassure viewers after having a coughing fit live on air – blaming it on “dust”.
Carrie Gracie, who was speaking on the Beeb’s 24 hour news channel, paused to cough into her hand mid-sentence.
She was hosting a special programme called ‘Coronavirus: Your Questions Answered’ in the wake of the breaking news that UK schools will close, mostly from Friday.
The Scottish journalist said: “You’ve been sending in your questions about the virus and the measures…”
Carrie had to stop speaking and turned her head to the side to cough into her closed fist before telling viewers: “Excuse me.”The presenter then turned to the BBC’s Education Correspondent, Charlotte Rose, to get some expert opinion on the schools closure news.
Before they began, Carrie reassured viewers that she did not have a persistent cough or a fever, which are symptoms of coronavirus.
She said: “I’m just going to say now I’ve just got a catch in my throat that is not a persistent cough and I do not have a fever.”
After coughing once again, Carrie added: “This studio is sometimes dusty.”
Carrie did not have a glass of water available on the desk to ease her cough but carried on with the interview.
BBC News viewers took to Twitter after the awkward moment happened live on air.One viewer tweeted: “Uh oh – Carrie Gracie on the BBC assuring viewers her cough is just dust in the studio and not coronavirus symptoms. Probably reassuring her studio guest the most.”
“Nice cough from the anchor on BBC News, could see was trying to keep back her laughing, i bet the DT room was HOWLING,” added another.
A third said: “The presenter on the BBC has genuinely just coughed into her fist and sounds like she’s struggling. She’s just clarified to say she doesn’t have a persistent cough and the studio is sometimes dusty!”
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