KATHMANDU: The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has demanded that the government managed proper treatment for all COVID-19 infected people including media persons.
The FNJ in a statement issued today by its Secretary-General Ramesh Bista demanded free PCR tests and treatment of the people including media persons who have been on duty at high infection-risk areas.
It also urged all working journalists to be serious about their health in discharging their duty in such an adverse situation caused by the infection and put their health security at high priority by adopting health security measures.
The media sector has been severely dented by the pandemic and more than 400 working journalists were infected across the country and four others died from the infection, he informed.
He also mentioned some media houses expelling the working journalists citing COVID-19 infection, denying them their salaries, and forcing them to stay on unpaid leave.
“Working journalists are facing a double whammy of COVID-19. On the one hand, they are working amid high infection risks. On the other, they are facing various hardships during the period. They are also deprived of their free PCR tests for the virus and their treatment,” read the statement.
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