A journalist of Dhaka Tribune has tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by a new coronavirus strain that has so far killed 239 people in Bangladesh.
“The civil surgeon called me in the morning and informed me about my sample’s test result," said the trainee online journalist on Monday, who is currently in isolation at his family’s home in Magura town.
He said he was doing well and hoping to make full recovery.
The 23-year-old said one of his uncles, who visited their home recently, had tested Covid-19 positive three days ago.
Afterwards, authorities put their home on lockdown and took samples from him and other family members. The samples were sent to lab at the Jessore University of Science and Technology (JUST) for testing.
Apart from him, no one else from the family tested positive, he said.
Magura Civil Surgeon Pardeep Kumar Saha told Dhaka Tribune that they received the report late on Sunday from JUST and informed the journalist Monday morning.
Apart from the journalist’s house, the authorities put another home and a road in the same neighbourhood under lockdown.
Pradeep said a staff of the Jessore civil surgeon’s office was also found Covid-19 positive at the same time.
The journalist said the civil surgeon asked him to stay in isolation at his home until further notice. “He advised me not to panic, take foods and fruits enriched with Vitamin C, and follow their directives to beat the infection.”
Until Monday afternoon, 11 Covid-19 cases were confirmed in Magura, said Civil Surgeon Pradeep. “Three of them have already recovered and the rest, including the Dhaka Tribune employee, are in home isolation and receiving treatment.”
The journalist has been staying with his family for nearly two months since he returned home from the capital, after Dhaka Tribune on March 19 decided to allow its head office-based employees to work from home in order to stay safe from the pandemic.
The newspaper is, however, publishing both print and online versions with most of its staff working from home.
Dhaka Tribune stands by the journalist and his family at this time of need.
Including the Dhaka Tribune journalist, 88 mediapersons were confirmed Covid-19 positive across the country till Monday — with 70 of them based in Dhaka.
The infected journalists are from 42 national and regional media outlets, including 19 newspapers, 18 television channels, two news portals, and as many radio channels.
Death of one journalist has so far been confirmed from Covid-19, while 14 other newsperson made full recovery.
Until Monday afternoon, health authorities in Bangladesh recorded 15,692 Covid-19 cases and 239 deaths from the disease.
