Pramesh S Jain
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on May 4 declared that all journalists will be regarded as frontline workers and announced that they will be vaccinated against COVID-19 on priority.
We will treat journalists as frontline workers and vaccinate them on a priority basis,Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa told reporters after a special cabinet meeting to control the growing COVID cases in the state.
He,however,appealed to journalists not to cover incidents in a manner that it created fear among people.There is a health emergency situation in the state as well as the country. It is the responsibility of the media.
He said soon after holding meeting with his cabinet colleagues to discuss the action plan for the second wave on Tuesday.
Mr. Yediyurappa said that he has asked the department concerned to give priority to media persons for vaccination.
Inclusion of media as frontline workers is a big relief for those who are covering ground reporting that they are entitled for all the benefited due to the others frontline workers.
The cabinet decided to import five lakh doses of Remdesivir injection and also one lakh oxygen concentrators.
The Chief Minister also warned those black-marketing Remdesivir drug by colluding with company officials, their agents and middlemen.
The cabinet also decided to appoint ministers to supervise the oxygen and Remdesivir supply,bed availability.
Minister for Large and Medium Industries Jagadish Shettar has been appointed the in-charge of Oxygen Centres.He will coordinate with the central government to ensure there is no shortage of oxygen,Yediyurappa told reporters.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr.CN Ashwathnarayan has been asked to coordinate with all medical colleges in the state and ensure that there is no shortage of Remdesivir injection and human resources.
Home minister,Basavaraj Bommai and Revenue Minister R Ashoka will look into the requirement of beds in government and private hospitals.
Forests Minister Arvind Limbavali will be in charge of various war rooms and call centres,he added.
Although the Maharashtra government has not made any such announcement on journalists, Maharashtra Minister Balasaheb Thorat on Tuesday said he has written to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray urging him to consider journalists as frontline workers to ensure that they get vaccinated against COVID-19.
