Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend Americans maintain a distance of 6 feet to help thwart the coronavirus’ rapid spread, co-host Steve Doocy said he and his colleagues usually sit only about 18 inches apart on the show's signature “curvy couch."

Fox & Friends hosts Steve Doocy (top), Ainsley Earhardt (middle) and Brian Kilmeade (bottom).

Tuesday morning, however, Doocy was alone on the mezzanine-level sofa, while Kimeade anchored “the big plastic desk” one floor below and co-host Ainsley Earhardt was stationed behind a lectern in the studio’s “fish bowl area.”

“We’re doing exactly the same thing people all across America are trying to do, and that is stay away from each other because you don’t want to get infected and you don’t want to spread infection,” Doocy said.

“We have a responsibility to slow down this virus and to think of other people during this time,” Earhardt added. “And so if you can keep your distance and prevent someone from getting close to you that might be sick, you can save your family, you can save the elderly and help our country as a nation.”

The new seating configuration reflects the seriousness with which President Donald Trump and his staunchest allies, both in media and politics, are now taking the coronavirus threat after being dismissive of its risk to Americans.

On-air talent and guests at Fox News have drawn special scrutiny for downplaying the disease in recent weeks. ast On Friday, Earhardt remarked that it was “actually the safest time to fly” despite advisories against nonessential travel, and conservative religious leader Jerry Falwell Jr. appeared on the program to accuse people of “overreacting” to the novel coronavirus.

“It makes you wonder if there’s a political reason for that,” Falwell said. “You know, impeachment didn’t work, and the Mueller report didn’t work, and Article 25 didn’t work. And so maybe now this is their next attempt to get Trump.”