Five dozen journalists in Province 1 contract COVID-19, one dies

ITAHARI, May 19: As of May 18 evening, the number of Covid-19 infected journalists amid the second wave of the pandemic has reached 60 in Province 1. According to Bibek Gautam, the General Secretary of Federation of Nepali Journalists Province 1 Committee, the highest infected tally is from four districts in the eastern Terai- Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari and Udayapur.  Jhapa district tops the list. In Jhapa alone, 19 journalists are battling with the pandemic. 

Similarly, in Morang, Sunsari and Udayapur, the tally is 15, 13 and 3 respectively. 

Taplejung and Panchthar each have three COVID-19 patients while Khotang has two. Likewise, Okhaldhunga and Bhojpur each have one patient.

Out of 60, three journalists are undergoing treatment at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and ventilator, informed Gautam. He added, ''One journalist has succumbed to this deadly virus.'' he said most of the infected journalists are in home isolation. 

Province 1 Chief Somnath Adhikari made calls to all infected journalists to boost their morale. ''Yesterday I got a call from Province Chief Pyasi, we talked for about five minutes. It was a surprise call and I felt encouraged,'' an Itahari-based journalist battling COVID-19 said.