53 media persons coronavirus test positive in Mumbai

Mumbai: At least 53 media persons, mostly from the electronic media, have tested Covid-19 positive after they underwent tests at a special camp organized here last week, an office-bearer said.

TV Journalists Association President Vinod Jagdale confirmed to IANS that while the number of test reports received so far is not available, at least 53 have tested positive so far and the figures are likely to go up.

An official in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that most are said to be asymptomatic cases and all have been sent to home quarantine for now while others' test results are awaited.

Following a request from the TVJA and Mantralaya & Legislature Reporters Association, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had directed the BMC to conduct the special screening camp for media persons.

Coordinated by Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, 171 media-persons including reporters and camera persons were screened on April 16-17 near the Mumbai Press Club, the reports of which have started coming.

The media persons - who mostly perform field duties - were also given tips to ensure their personal safety in public places, wearing masks, using sanitisers, etc in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The doubling rate of Coronavirus cases has slowed down, the government said – going from 3.4 days before lockdown to 7.5 days. "Based on the last seven days, India's doubling rate has improved to 7.5%," senior health ministry official Lav Agarwal told the media.

Five more police personnel from the Chandni Mahal police station in New Delhi have tested positive for COVID-19. Eight personnel from the police station have tested positive for the virus so far, Delhi Police said.

The Assam government on Monday deposited Rs 2,000 each to the accounts of 86,000 people who are now stranded in other states due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus outbreak.