The press is a victim of corona ... scores of dead and an opportunity to tighten control and repression

Dozens of journalists around the world have died of the emerging coronavirus (Covid-19) in the past two months, according to a press freedom advocacy organization that today expressed regret that media crews often lack the necessary protection supplies to cover the developments of the epidemic.

Prior to World Press Freedom Day, which falls on Sunday, the Press Umbrella Campaign (the Logo of the Press Campaign) warned that many journalists were putting themselves at risk to prepare reports on the global crisis, and many had contracted Corona while doing their work.

The organization said that since last March 1, it had recorded the death of 55 media personnel in 23 countries as a result of the virus, stressing at the same time that it was not clear whether everyone had contracted the disease during work.

"Journalists face a great risk in this health crisis, because they must continue to provide information by going to hospitals and interviewing doctors, nurses, political officials, specialists, scientists, and patients," the organization said in a statement.

She added that in a number of countries no "necessary protective measures" had been imposed, such as social separation, quarantine and wearing of masks, especially in the early stages of the outbreak.

Ecuador was the country most affected by the number of journalists who died from the virus, recording at least nine deaths, followed by the United States with eight deaths, Brazil with four deaths, and Britain and Spain with three deaths each.

The organization also drew to UN warnings that the epidemic that has killed more than 230,000 people out of more than 3.2 million infections worldwide is being used in some countries as an excuse to suppress the media.

The organization noted "the imposition of censorship, the closure of the Internet, the arbitrary arrests of journalists, physical and verbal attacks, and emergency laws that restrict press freedom in recent weeks."

She added that the matter is particularly worrying at a time when access to reliable public information is more important than ever, and considered that "transparency is essential and can save lives during a health crisis."