A total of 53 journalists tested positive for Covid-19 last week in in Mumbai, India, according to the local council body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

BMC said it had tested 167 journalists in the city who were reporting on the crisis. Those who tested positive are now in isolation.

The positive cases include reporters, cameramen, photographers, and van operators, said Amey Ghole, head of the BMC Health Committee.

“It is shocking that more than 50 journalists of electronic media, particularly camera persons, have been found corona positive in Mumbai. Every journalist should take proper care,” tweeted senior cabinet minister Prakash Javadekar yesterday.

The Mumbai Press Club issued a public appeal to the state’s chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray, asking for better safeguards for journalists.

“As can be seen the pandemic shows no signs of dying away, and journalists are forced to continue to work to provide news and information to the public. While some of us have the privilege of working from home, many journalists have still to venture out in hazardous zones and common spaces, and require immediate protection,” said the letter.

Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, has recorded the highest number of cases in India. At least 4,666 people have tested positive in the state and 232 have died.