MUMBAI: Times Network has informed that six of its staff members have been tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, as the pandemic shows no signs of abating.
An official statement of Times Network says that while fulfilling their duties, four colleagues at Mirror Now and two support staff members (shared resources) “have been tested positive despite practicing all safety measures and precautions.”
“Following Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation guidance, they (employees who have been tested positive) have been shifted to the mandatory quarantine facility at a private hospital in Mumbai and are doing fine.”
The network has informed that the rest of the team members have all been tested negative and continue to be lodged safely. “Similarly, the operations of Mirror Now and ET Now have been shifted to an alternate location in Mumbai to ensure non-stop news coverage to our viewers, which was kept ready for an emergency scenario and managed by a fresh standby team,” reads the statement.
“In spite of this mishap, the network will continue with the strategy of housing our teams in captive locations as we believe this is the safest option to ensure they don’t get infected by the virus,” said the statement.
Times Network has already opted for WFH alternative to minimise external contact by following the government’s decision to be in self-isolation to curb the spread of the virus.
The network’s news headquarters and tech teams were also accommodated in captive locations within our premises and other boarding locations in Mumbai and Delhi with dedicated sanitised transportation to ensure they did not have to travel from home daily.
The media company also said that it stands by its commitment to ensure employee and their families’ safety, and responsibility to the larger community as it continues to offer seamless broadcast service to the viewers.
So far, India has reported over 8,000 positive cases of COVID-19, Maharashtra tops with nearly 2,000 cases alone. The death toll due to the virus has surpassed the 250-mark across the country.
