Mumbai: 53 Journalists Test Positive For COVID-19

A BMC official said that samples of 167 journalists were sent for testing and health committee members said the number could increase.

Mumbai| At least 53 journalists, including reporters, cameramen and photographers, tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai on Monday.

Officials said that samples of 167 media persons were sent for testing and health committee members said count may increase.

Civic officials said they would be shifting all 53 confirmed cases to COVID-19 critical centres (CCC) and for observation. They will also carry out contact tracing.

The cases were identified after 167 media personnel were tested at a special camp established by the BMC along with the Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi from April 16-17.

Deputy executive health officer at BMC Dr Daksha Shah said 171 had been tested of whom 53 were said to be positive, while the others’ reports are awaited. “Most of these media personnel are asymptomatic and are low-risk categories. We have asked them to home quarantine and will shortly be moving them to CCC centres,” she said.

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All those who have tested positive for the virus were on the field, covering the novel coronavirus pandemic, so it will be a tall order, trying to get details of those whom they have come in contact within the last 1 month, BMC officials said.

“It will be hard for them to recall whom they have met but we will try to trace their close contacts and quarantine them,” said officials.