No fewer than 53 journalists, with the majority belonging to a television news channel, in Mumbai, India’s financial capital, have tested positive for the new coronavirus.
Of the 167 journalists tested by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation over the weekend, every third tested positive.
In a televised news conference, Joint Secretary of Health Ministry Luv Aggarwal called the development “unfortunate,” and stressed the need to stay indoors unless it was absolutely necessary to step out.
The cases came into light after a senior journalist in the city, Ashok Bagriya, tweeted that an entire team had tested positive. He asked media houses to facilitate journalists.
“The journalists were examined by BMC. Delhi should follow the lead; it is important to tests journalists on the field. Will the media houses now pay for the medical expenses, loss of work, and mental trauma caused to the journalists and their families?” he tweeted.
The state of Maharashtra has seen the highest number of COVID-19 cases in India so far, and continues to be worst-hit with 4,203 cases and 223 deaths. The South Asian nation, in total, has registered 17,615 cases, including 559 deaths.
Head of the journalist association at MCGM, Vishnu Sonawane said that a majority of those who tested positive are from TV channels.
The media persons are being provided medical treatment and held in quarantine at a hotel in Goregaon.
The arrangement for the media persons was possible due to the help provided by the MCGM Mayor, Kishori Pednekar and Environment Minister, Aditya Thackeray.
– dailytimes.com.pk
Coronavirus: Over 50 Journalists Test Positive
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