735 journalists including 23 Pakistanis killed by Covid-19 ,reports PEC

Geneva, February 3, 2021 (PEC) The Covid-19 is claiming more and more victims in the media community. At least 735 journalists have died from Covid-19 in 63 countries in 11 months, or 66 per month on average, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) announced on Wednesday in Geneva.

Of the 735 journalists who have died from Covid-19 since March 1, 2020, Latin America leads with 375 victims. Asia follows with 148 dead, ahead of  Europe 137, North America 39 and Africa 36.

The largest increases in the number of victims during the month of January 2021 were recorded in Brazil and Mexico.

Acceleration

At the end of December, the PEC had counted 602 victims, the difference of 133 deaths in one month marks an acceleration in the number of deaths from Covid-19 (113 in December, 47 in November). However, not all died in January: several deaths have occurred in the previous weeks and were registered only late.

Of the January victims whose ages are known, half were over 60 when they died, the other half between 30 and 60 (4 between 30 and 40).

Peru remains the country with the heaviest death toll, with 95 media workers who have died from the coronavirus since March. Mexico is in second place with 84 victims, ahead of Brazil, which deplores 77 journalists who died from Covid-19. In Asia India follow with 54 dead, then Bangladesh (44).

Italy is the most bereaved European country with 44 journalists dead from the novel coronavirus. Ecuador follows with 42 dead.

In the United States, 38 victims of Covid-19 have been counted among the media. Pakistan follows with 23 deaths from Covid-19, ahead of Great Britain with 22 deaths. In Turkey, 21 deaths from the virus have been recorded. Next Ukraine (14), Panama (12), Russia (also 12), Bolivia (11) and Colombia (10).

Afghanistan and Spain each have 9 victims. In the Dominican Republic 8 casualties were counted. Nigeria and South Africa are the most affected countries in Africa by the pandemic, with 8 and 7 victims respectively.

Seven deaths were counted in Argentina and 7 in Honduras. In Egypt, Nicaragua and Venezuela, six journalists have died in each country. In France, five journalists have died from Covid-19.

Three journalists died in each of these countries: Cameroon, Guatemala, Iran, Nepal, El Salvador and Zimbabwe.

Two deaths are known in the following countries: Algeria, Indonesia, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal and Sweden.

Finally, the PEC has identified at least one death in the following 24 countries: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Iraq (Kurdistan), Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mozambique, Poland, Saudi Arabia,  Switzerland, Tajikistan, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay.

Access to vaccines

The PEC deplores this large number of victims from the coronavirus and sends its condolences to families and colleagues. The PEC supports initiatives taken in several countries to give media workers rapid access to immunization.

“Because of their profession, journalists who go into the field to inform are particularly exposed to the virus. Some of them, especially the freelancers, cameramen and photographers, cannot only work from home, ” said PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen.

The actual number of victims is certainly higher, as the cause of death of journalists is sometimes not specified or their death not announced. In some countries, there is no reliable information.The origin of the infection is often difficult to determine, and it is not possible to differentiate journalists who have become infected at work from those who have been infected in their private lives.

The PEC tally is based on information from local media, national associations of journalists and regional PEC correspondents.

Source: PEC