So far, 60 journalists have contracted the disease in Telangana and one of them died. Out of the state’s tally of 4,974 cases, 449 were registered among migrants, deportees and foreign returnees
Hyderabad: Twenty three journalists were among 237 people testing positive for COVID-19 in Telangana on Sunday (June 14), pushing the state’s tally to 4,974. So far, 60 journalists have contracted the disease and one of them died, said Telangana health minister’s office.
Three deaths were also reported during the last 24 hours, ending 5 pm on Sunday. With this, the death toll has mounted to 185.
For a second day in a row, the state registered over 200 cases. Sunday’s figure is the second highest single-day jump. The highest jump (253) was recorded on Saturday.
Of the new cases reported on Sunday, Greater Hyderabad accounted for 195 cases. The remaining cases were reported from 15 other districts.
The new cases in Hyderabad include 23 journalists who were reportedly covering the Telangana secretariat. This is the first time that journalists in such a large number have tested positive in a single day.
A 36-year-old TV journalist had died of COVID-19 on June 7. About a dozen journalists had already tested positive.
Meanwhile, one more employee at the Telangana secretariat tested positive. A staff member in the Information Technology department was found infected by the virus.
The secretariat has already seen few COVID cases among the employees. This sent panic among the staff with only a few attending the duties for more than a week.
The officials have already installed thermal scanner cameras to check the body temperature of the employees before allowing them into BRK Bhavan.
The entry of visitors has also been restricted into the secretariat.
Sunday also saw another MLA testing positive. Nizamabad Rural MLA Bajireddy Goverdhan was found infected by the virus.