Over 50 journalists test positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 21 April 2020

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation announced that 53 journalists in Mumbai have tested positive for COVID-19. This figure may rise as testing continues.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has confirmed that at least 53 journalists in Mumbai have tested positive for COVID-19. The number is expected to increase.

BMC Health Committee member Amey Ghole told HuffPost India that samples of 167 journalists had been sent for testing. "Out of 167 samples, 53 have come positive for COVID-19," he said. "The number could go up."

These 53 journalists include news reporters, camera operators of news channels, and photojournalists.

Journalist Ashok Bagriya tweeted that an entire team of reporters of a television channel in Mumbai had tested positive.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in Mumbai alone, over 2,700 people have tested positive.

Joint Health Secretary Lav Agarwal said at a daily press conference that it was unfortunate that journalists had tested positive for COVID-19.

In March, some journalists were found infected with the virus—two in Chennai and one from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.

KEY POINTS:

• 53 journalists tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai.
• Testing conducted on 167 journalists.
• Includes reporters and camera operators.
• The number of positive cases is expected to increase.
• Previous infections recorded among journalists in other Indian cities.