Dr Oz employee tests positive for coronavirus after TV medic told people to eat berries to avoid getting Covid-19

Mehmet Oz expected to keep filming from home

Dr Mehmet Oz on 10 October 2019 in New York City. (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Global Lyme Alliance)

The Dr Oz Show has reportedly shut down production after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

According to Variety, Dr Mehmet Oz will continue to film from home in order to air new episodes daily.

A source close to production told the publication that the staffer doesn’t go into the studio but rather works from a separate office, and that he hasn’t been to work since Thursday last week.

“He had a little cough, and someone heard him cough and they sent him home. He wanted to return back to work because, aside from the little cough, he felt fine, but we would not let him,” the production source is quoted as saying.

“Dr Oz was the one who insisted he get tested, even thought he wasn’t displaying any symptoms. If he had just gone to his normal doctor, the doctor wouldn’t have given him a test or even suggested getting a test, but since he wanted to come back to work, we got him a test.”

Many other programmes have halted production due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, and Whoopi Goldberg have recently all tuned into their respective shows from home as part of necessary precautions.

Oz, who has covered the pandemic extensively over the past 10 days, has come under criticism for some of his advice – notably, an infographic he shared on 8 March, recommending among other things the consumption of food items such as blackberries and leafy greens to support immunity.

Sleep, exercise and meditation were also among the recommended lifestyle tips – as well as disinfecting surfaces, washing hands thoroughly, and avoiding handshakes.

”I’m sorry, @DrOz – I’m confused by your medical advice,” wrote Dr Dave Stukus, an allergy and asthma specialist at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

“How many blackberries should I eat each day to prevent #coronavirus? How much elderberry will treat active infection? Should I meditate to prevent or treat active infection? Please ignore all this shameful nonsense.”

The Independent has contacted The Dr Oz Show for more information and for comment.