Joy Behar Out Sick from The View After Getting COVID for First Time: ‘It Finally Got Her’ – PEOPLE

Joy Behar has successfully avoided the COVID-19 virus until now.

The View host, 81, will be absent from a few episodes of the daytime talk show after contracting the virus for the first time ever, her co-host Whoopi Goldberg revealed on Tuesdays show, according to Entertainment Weekly.

"Joy is out this week. You know why? She finally got COVID," Goldberg told the audience. "Three years, four years in, it finally got her."

Fellow co-host Sara Haines added that Behar "can finally stop bragging now" that she never caught COVID-19 which is something she has mentioned on the show.

Yvette Nicole Brown took over the hosting duties from Behar on Tuesday, though it was unclear if she would stay in the seat for the rest of the week. Behar was also absent on Monday, though she typically takes that day off.

Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC via Getty

This isnt the first time that the daytime host has been absent due to the COVID-19. She previously took a few days off the show in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic amid concerns of the virus spreading.

Im in a higher risk group because of my age, but Im perfectly healthy, Behar said of her decision to opt out of a few shows.

I dont look my age, but Im actually up there. The number makes me dizzy, added Behar, whose precautionary decision to stay home came at the urging of her daughter.

Several of The View hosts have previously tested positive for the virus or have had close calls in the past. Goldberg tested positive for the virus in January 2022 and then again a few months later in November 2022. The first time she tested positive, she noted that she had mild symptoms after being vaccinated and receiving the booster shot.

Sara Haines also was absent in January 2022 after having close contact with someone with the virus.

In 2021, Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro were publicly pulled off The View stage after their COVID-19 test results showed up positive ahead of an appearance by Vice President Kamala Harris. Though their tests were later revealed to be false positives.

The View airs weekdays on ABC (check local listings).

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Joy Behar Out Sick from The View After Getting COVID for First Time: 'It Finally Got Her' - PEOPLE