There isn't a ton of concrete information out there about why Frank Fritz has been missing from recent "American Pickers" episodes, but outlets like Celeb Hook are claiming that there are a few factors preventing his immediate return.
First and foremost, COVID-19 is still very much a problem, and since Fritz is someone with a serious, preexisting medical condition, risking catching the virus is surely something he would want to avoid. Neither Fritz nor anyone part of the "American Pickers" team have confirmed this as a reason for Fritz's absence, but a press release issued ahead of the show's arrival in Missouri in May 2021 reveals that the cast and crew are taking things seriously regarding COVID-19 safety. "We understand that with the proliferation of COVID-19, we are all facing very uncertain times. We at American Pickers are taking the pandemic very seriously and will be following all guidelines and protocols for safe filming as outlined by the state and CDC," the press release reads in part (via the Neosho Daily News).
Both Celeb Hook and the U.S. Sun have also claimed that Fritz was quarantining in LeClaire, Iowa — the location of one of the two Antique Archaeology stores — where he recently sold his and his ex-fiancé, Diann Bankson's, $358,000 home (via the U.S. Sun).
