WORRY As 50 Journalists Test Positive For COVID 19

BY ROBERT KAMUKAMA

LUWEERO, Uganda |SHIFTMEDIA| Members of the Fourth estate (Journalists) who are always at the battle front haven’t been spared by the COVID 19 pandemic.

according to the Ministry of Health, at least 50 journalists have tested positive of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The country has so far registered 9082 persons, while 84 have succumbed to the pandemic.

Dr Charles Olaro the director Curative Services at the Ministry of Health said the 50 journalists represents 0.6% of the total cases registered so far.

Many media houses including Vision Group, Next Media, UBC, Nation Media Group Radio Parcis in Arua among others have not been spared as some of their staff tested positive for the virus.

Dr. Olaro explained that some of the journalists could have contracted the disease because of the nature of their work.

He was addressing the media during a symposium intended to deepen the knowledge of journalists on COVID-19, the response of the scientific community, and the general state of play in Uganda.

Dr Peter G. Mwesige, the Executive Director of The African Centre for Media Excellence said he was struck by the revelation and asked the journalists to mind about their safety as they go around their work.

Emmanuel Ainebyona, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health said many of the journalists who were found positive are still on treatment and recovering from the virus.

He, however, noted despite the fact that journalists were at the forefront on spreading information on the prevention against the virus, many were not observing the Standard Operating Procedures during press conferences and other interactions with various people in the early stages of the pandemic which could have contributed to the infections.

But Ainebyona noted that there is an improvement with many wearing masks, sanitizing daily and embracing use of microphones mounted on stands so as to observe social distancing with news sources who could expose them to infection.

He however observed with caution that most journalists especially those working in upcountry stations are more prone to the various because their media houses don’t provide them with PPEs like masks and sanitizers.