Globally 864 scribes died of Covid-19, India loses 2 in 30 days

-NJ THAKURIA

Globally  864 scribes died of Covid-19, India loses 2 in 30 days
Geneva/Guwahati, 10 March 2021: Globally 864 journalists succumbed to
Covid-19 complications in 69 countries during the last 12 months that
counts more than 2 scribes per day on average, stated the Switzerland
based media watchdog Press Emblem Campaign (PEC).
“This is the heaviest toll in the media community since World War II.
The PEC team deplores this large number of victims from the novel
coronavirus and sends its condolences to families and colleagues,”
said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC
(https://pressemblem.ch/).
It is essential that now journalists can have rapid access to
vaccination so that they can do their works in the field without
endangering their lives, asserted Lempen adding that total number of
media-victims is certainly higher, as the cause of death of
journalists is sometimes not specified or their death not announced.
After the Latin American countries (over 455 deaths) Asian nations witness
maximum media corona-casualties (over 150 in 17 countries) followed by
Europe (over 145 in 16 countries), North America (over 45 in 2 countries) and
Africa (over 35 in 15 countries).  India leads in casualties (56) among the
Asian countries followed by  Bangladesh (44), Pakistan (23),
Afghanistan (9), Nepal (3), Indonesia (2), Japan (1) etc.
Peru remains the country with the heaviest death toll  where  108
media workers died from the coronavirus since March 2020. Brazil is in
second place with 107 victims, ahead of Mexico, that deplores 88
journalists who died of Covid-19. Italy is the most bereaved European
country with 48 journalist’s deaths.
Other nations with media corona casualties include United States (44),
Ecuador (42), Colombia (37), Great Britain (28), Turkey (21), Panama
(16), Ukraine, Bolivia,  Russia (each 14), Spain (13), Argentina (9),
Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nigeria, South Africa,
Venezuela (8 each), Egypt, France, Nicaragua (6 each), Guatemala (4),
Cameroon, Iran, Morocco, Salvador, Sweden, Zimbabwe (3 each).
At least two deaths reported from Algeria, Cuba, Paraguay, Portugal
and one casualty among media workers recorded in Switzerland, Belgium,
Poland, Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, Chile, Czech Republic, DR Congo, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya,
Lebanon, Mozambique, Benin, Uganda, Uruguay etc.
“India has lost two prominent journalists within the last 30 days,”
said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s country representative, adding that Jaipur
based scribe Sanjay Bohra (50) becomes the latest victim, who died of
Covid-19 aggravated ailments on 2 March, whereas popular television
news anchor Vikas Sharma (35) passed away on 4  February due to
post-corona complications.