The Gambia Press Union has urged government to support journalists whose work is crucial to stopping the spread of coronavirus as scores of journalists test positive for the virus. 

The Union said in a statement: “Since the outbreak of Covid-19 global pandemic – and its emergence in The Gambia – media houses and reporters have been working under extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances to save lives by keeping the people informed and educated of the pandemic and ultimately holding the government to account.

“As frontliners, reporters have been reporting from treatment centres, the airport and land borders and other many potential hotspots without adequate protective equipment and disinfectants. 

“The Union is proud of these enormous sacrifices and calls on the public and the government to support journalists whose work is crucial to stopping the spread and saving lives,” the statement added.

The Union also called on media houses and journalists ‘to utilise the media advisory prepared by the GPU which provides key guidance on safety of journalists during the pandemic.”

The Union wishes all the infected journalists a speedy recovery.

The Gambia coronavirus cases now stand at 316 with 8 registered deaths.