COVID-19: 25 employees of Tamil news channel test positive in Chennai

A day after 53 journalists tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai, at least 25 people working for a Tamil news channel were found infected in Chennai on Tuesday (April 21), triggering concerns over the press conferences on the infection that are held in the city.

“Not less than 25 people have tested positive of the 90 plus samples (for confirmatory RT-PCR test) taken,” a health department official told PTI. The development comes days after two journalists, including one who worked with the TV channel, tested positive for the contagion in the city.

To a question, the official said the test results of those associated with the television channel were being collated and indicated that the tally of total positives could be “27”. Asked in which hospital they were being admitted, he said a direction has been given to admit them at Omandurar hospital.

Related news: Revisiting the history of Tamil Nadu’s first exclusive COVID-19 hospital

Meanwhile, PMK founder S Ramadoss voiced concern over the testing positive of journalists in Tamil Nadu and other states, and urged media organisations to protect their staff. He suggested the government can do away with press conferences on COVID-19.

Referring to the journalists testing positive for the virus in the city and 53 in Mumbai, he said mediapersons, alongside frontline warriors of COVID-19 like doctors, nurses, sanitary workers and police personnel have come under the “attack of coronavirus.”

While the operations of medical professionals and police personnel could not be scaled down in the fight against COVID-19, the work style of scribes may be altered so as to prevent them from getting infected, Ramadoss said in a statement.

Related news: Over 50 journalists test positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai

Pointing out that easily over 200 people, including journalists, photo journalists, and camerapersons of television channels, could gather for a press meet, he said, “If this alone is avoided, journalists can be protected from getting infected.”

Rather than convening a press conference, the information sought to be conveyed in such gatherings can be sent to media houses as “press releases,” he said adding if video footages were needed by television channels, these could be arranged by government information and public relations wing.

“Hence, the government should give up coronavirus related press conferences… similarly, physical distancing should be followed in press/media offices and the government and media firms must come forward to protect journalists,” he appealed.

(With inputs from agencies)