Times Network has shifted its operations for channels Mirror Now and ET Now after six of its staff members tested positive for coronavirus.
Four of these employees work on the desk for English news channel Mirror Now and two are pantry staff of ET Now.
Times Network said the staff required to manage operations that can’t be run from home is being kept at different locations across different premises to minimise their contact with the external environment. The staff members who tested positive were staying on company premises. They have been shifted to a quarantine facility in a private hospital in Mumbai and are doing fine according to a statement. Other staff members have tested negative.
Here's Times Network's statement in full.
Committed to playing an active role in offering the highest quality news flow to our viewers during these unprecedented times, some of our frontline news people have been braving the risks of the external world as they report on the adversity. To minimise external contact our News HQ and Tech teams were accommodated in captive locations within our premises and other boarding locations in Mumbai and Delhi, with dedicated sanitised transportation to ensure they did not have to travel from home daily and risk their families and colleagues. Despite practicing all safety measures and precautions while fulfilling their duties, four of our colleagues at Mirror Now and two support staff members have tested positive. Following BMC guidance, they have been shifted to the mandatory quarantine facility at a private hospital in Mumbai and are doing fine. The rest of our team members have all tested negative and continue to be lodged with us safely. As per standard protocol, BMC has conducted anti-virus sanitisation at our Lower Parel premises and it will be ready for resuming operations by mid next week. To ensure non-stop news to our viewers, the operations of Mirror Now and ET Now have been shifted to an alternate location in Mumbai, which was kept ready for an emergency scenario. This is being managed by a fresh standby team. As we navigate through this unprecedented challenge, we are humbled by the dedication and exemplary courage of our team members doing critical operations that can’t be done within WFH protocol. In spite of this mishap, we will continue with the strategy of housing our teams in captive locations as we believe this is the safest option to ensure they don’t get infected from multiple external environments and pass on to each other at work or most importantly don’t carry the risk of infection home to their families and into the community. We stand by our commitment to ensure employee and their families safety & well-being and responsibility to the larger community as we continue to offer seamless broadcast service to our viewers.
