Bhubaneswar, May 2: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has declared working journalists of the state as 'frontline COVID warriors' for providing seamless news feed amid rising coronavirus cases in the state.

Approving a proposal, the Chief Minister has said: "Working journalists are doing a great service to the state by providing seamless news feed, making people aware on issues relating to coronavirus at this very trying times and they are a great support for our war against COVID-19". Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Approves Package of Rs 289.42 Crore for Benefit of MSMEs to Combat COVID-19 Pandemic.

The decision will benefit 6,944 working journalists of the state, according to a statement by the CMO. As many as 6,944 working journalists of the state have been covered under Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana. They are receiving health insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh each.

Besides, an ex gratia of Rs 15 lakh is also being provided to the next of kin of journalists who died of COVID-19 while performing their duties. The state recorded 8,015 new COVID-19 cases, 5,634 recoveries and related 14 deaths in the last 24 hours, the state health department said on Sunday.

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