Haryana government on Thursday announced an insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh each for journalists who are reporting in the state during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The state government has decided to provide insurance of Rs 10 lakh each to all journalists who are reporting during coronavirus pandemic,” Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said in a statement.
The decision comes days after several journalists tested positive for coronavirus in Mumbai and Chennai, while on duties relating to COVID-19.
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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced that the administration will start testing media personnel for coronavirus. The testing began on Wednesday at a dedicated testing centre in Delhi.
“Dear friends from media, Testing of media persons has started at a covid test centre. I wish u all very good health,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.
Dear friends from media,
Testing of media persons has started at a covid test centre. I wish u all very good health pic.twitter.com/ZRz1BOYFJW
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 22, 2020
The Karnataka government had also issued a similar order on the COVID-19 testing of media persons who are working in the field during the coronavirus crisis.
In its advisory, the central government on Wednesday urged all media professionals to take care of their health and observe necessary precautions.
“It has come to the notice of the Ministry that a large number of media persons have recently contracted with Covid-19 while covering the happening in certain parts of the country,” the statement read.
Earlier on April 21, the West Bengal government had extended the insurance scheme to accredited journalists in view of COVID-19 outbreak in the country.