Karnataka CM orders COVID-19 check-up of all Bengaluru journalists

Concerned over the welfare of media warriors amid the coronavirus outbreak, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa directed the state health department to conduct a medical check-up of all journalists in this tech city to ensure they are free from the virus, an official said on Tuesday.

"The Chief Minister has directed the health commissioner and the information commissioner to jointly organise health check-up for all journalists, including electronic and print mediapersons, to ensure they are free from coronavirus," the official told IANS here.

Following media reports that 53 journalists in Mumbai have contracted the virus, state Education Minister Suresh Kumar wrote to Yediyurappa for a medical check-up of all journalists in the city, as many of them have been on the field to cover the outbreak and spread of the infection for over a month now.

"All journalists will soon be informed about the check-up once arrangements are made, as their health is equally of concern to the state government," information joint director D.P. Muralidhar said.

Similar medical camps will be held in other cities and towns across the state for the health check-up of journalists working in the semi-urban and rural areas.