Cody Rigsby and Cheryl Burke made 'Dancing With the Stars' history by performing their jazz routine separately - and at home

• Cody Rigsby and Cheryl Burke became the first "DWTS" couple to perform remotely and separately.
• The two, who are both vaccinated, each tested positive for COVID-19.
• Despite the effort, Rigsby and Burke scored 18 out of 40, the lowest score of the night.

Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby and "Dancing With the Stars" pro Cheryl Burke performed a jazz number to the Britney Spears hit "Gimme More" away from the ballroom floor following their COVID-19 diagnoses.

The long-running dance competition show celebrated "Britney Night" on Monday, with contestants showcasing their ballroom dance moves to hit Spears songs like "Oops! … I Did It Again," "Womanizer," and "Hold It Against Me."

Ahead of the second episode on September 27, Burke announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19 in an emotional Instagram video. Four days later, Rigsby announced that he had tested positive as well.

After staying away from the competition for one episode, the two were back with their remote performance to "Gimme More" on Monday. (The judges had scored them in week two based on a taped rehearsal.)

Burke and Rigsby performed their "split-screen jazz routine" separately from their respective living rooms to lukewarm responses from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli. (The fourth judge, Derek Hough, sat out this week out of "an abundance of caution" after a COVID-19 scare.)

While Tonioli said he "admired the perseverance and the commitment" the two exhibited by performing despite having COVID-19, it was "very difficult to judge the sync" between Rigsby and Burke.

Inaba agreed and said that their routine did not "compare to what we have in the ballroom" with the other teams.

"I thought for the circumstances, you did a terrific job, well done," Goodman said.

Despite their historic performance, Rigsby and Burke scored 18 out of 40 - the lowest score of the night. However, they escaped elimination. "Bling Empire" star Christine Chiu and her partner Pasha Pashkov went home instead, despite the judges praising Chiu's significant improvement over last week.

Both Rigsby and Burke said they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Peloton instructor previously tested positive for COVID-19 in February, describing it as the sickest he'd ever felt in his life. He said his symptoms the first time around included a cough and severe fatigue.

Rigsby said earlier in October that his second time experiencing the illness was less serious and he has "really mild symptoms, congestion, a little bit of a headache." And clearly, he was well enough to perform a fairly energetic jazz routine.

"In comparison to when I had COVID early this year, it is night and day," Rigsby said in an Instagram video on Thursday.

COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent infection, but they are highly effective at preventing serious illness and death.