Yemisi Izuora
A journalist with Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Adamawa State Council has tested positive for coronavirus.
Consequently, the authorities have directed all members to go on self-isolation with immediate effect.
This was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday signed by Ishaka Donald Dedan(Chairman) and Fidelis Jockthan (Secretary) respectively, and further ordered the closure of the press centre with effect from Thursday.
The council in similar vein ordered that, henceforth members across the nine chapels should start operating from home,stressing that, only accredited journalists from various mediums will cover the daily briefings from the ‘Adamawa coronavirus Containment Committee’,
‘Following the painful discovery of one index Case of COVID-19 victim in Adamawa State, the Nigeria Union of Journalists is directing all it’s members across nine Chapels to start operating from home with effect from Thursday 23rd of April 2020’, the statement reads.
‘Consequently, as the said first index victim emanates from the correspondents Chapel of the NUJ, all members should go on self-isolation with immediate effect. It is imperative to ask all Journalists to adhere strictly to safety measures against COVID-19’.
‘With this development, the leadership of NUJ has shut-down all other activities and businesses at the press centre Yola with effect from Friday 24th April 2020. While only accredited Journalists from various Mediums will cover the daily briefings from the ‘Adamawa COVID-19 Containment Committee’’
The union also called on the coronavirus committee to urgently provide Journalists covering it’s daily briefings and other activities with every necessary safety materials and resources to enable them perform their function effectively.
ThenNUJ urged the public to always see Journalists as partners in progress as well as critical stakeholders in the fight against COVID-19.