More than 2 dozen media workers tested positive for COVID-19 in Balochistan

In Quetta, over than two dozen media workers were infected with coronavirus on Sunday.

Those who contracted virus in media industry includes senior journalists, bureau chiefs, cameramen of private TV channels and workers performing work in different sections of media offices.

Senior journalists who tested positive for Coronavirus include Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) president Ayub Tareen, who is the Bureau Chief of Hum TV, Dunia TV Bureau Chief Irfan Saeed, a lady reporter and three other staff members of the Dunia TV.

Besides, a senior reporter and engineer of Geo TV channel also tested positive for Coronavirus while reporters, drivers and other staff of Neo TV and GNN were also shifted to isolation centres after they tested positive for Covid-19.

Health officials said on Sunday that Coronavirus tests of 50 journalists and media workers had been carried out in the Quetta Press Club. Out of 50 tests carried out, 27 tested positive.

Health Department spokesman Dr Wasim Baig said that two patients of Covid-19 lost their lives. The total number of deaths due to corona in the province have since risen to 24.

He further stated that, “around 86 per cent people contracted the virus locally as they had no history of travelling abroad.” 

The Balochistan government, despite warning of experts and doctors, announced easing of the lockdown and allowed traders to open shops, markets, shopping malls, cloth shops, tailors and other businesses from Monday.