New Delhi - With the coronavirus spreading like wildfire across all the states of the country, different state heads are coming out with different strategies regarding how their media is going to handle the identity of the patients.
In similar press conferences held on a single day, while the state of Odisha was seen banning the media from naming the patients or even their relatives, the State of Gujarat on the other hand has decided to reveal the names of all the persons infected with the deadly virus
The Odisha government Saturday directed the press no to disclose the identities of the COVID-19 patients, their relatives, and even the doctors and nurses treating them.
"No media shall publish the names and the addresses of the persons infected by the coronavirus, their parents, relatives, the doctors treating them and the assisting medical staff, obtained through any source," said Subroto Bagchi, the state governments chief spokesperson on COVID-19.
The state government has issued the directive under Section-2 of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 and in conformity with Rule-17 of the guidelines issued by the Press Council of India, he said.
No media shall interview any patient affected with COVID-19, his/her parents/relatives/treating doctors, assisting medical staff, in any form, Bagchi said, quoting an official notification.Any violation will be punishable, he added.
Taking a completely opposite stand on the matter, the Gujarat government has decided to reveal the names of the persons who have tested positive for coronavirus in the state so far, so that those who came in their contact can get themselves tested, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said on Sunday.
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The number of infected persons in the state is 18, of whom one died in Surat on Sunday.
"The state government has decided to officially declare the names of the 18 coronavirus positive patients soon, so that their neighbours, business associates, or those who came in contact with them get themselves checked," Patel, who is also the health minister, told reporters.
"If such persons should go to a government hospital and get themselves checked. In case they test positive, their treatment can be started immediately," he said.
Of the 18 positive cases in the state, seven are from Ahmedabad, three each from Surat, Vadodara and Gandhinagar, and one each from Kutch and Rajkot.
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