Geneva,
Nearly 2000 journalists died of Covid-19
in 94 countries since March 2020. Last year, in 2021, at least 1400
media workers succumbed to the virus, that is to say 116 par month or
some 4 per day on average, announced Friday in Geneva the Press Emblem
Campaign (PEC).
No continent is spared by the pandemic. Of the 1940 journalists dead
registered by the PEC since March 1, 2020, Latin America leads with
half of the victims, or 955 deaths. Asia follows with 556 dead, ahead
of Europe 263, then Africa 98 and North America 68.
More than 50 casualties are still under investigation. The actual
number of victims is certainly higher, as the cause of journalists’
deaths is sometimes not specified or their deaths not announced. In
some countries, there is no reliable information. The 2000 figure is a
low estimate. According to PEC India representative Nava Thakuria, the
vast south-Asian country might have lost over 400 media workers to the
pandemic, but a hundred of them are yet to be authenticated.
Slowdown in the number of victims
After a spike in deadly infections in the first half of 2021, the
death toll thankfully slowed in the second half thanks to advances in
vaccination, said PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen.
For the second half of 2021, 225 deaths were registered, with an
increase in Europe, ans a sharp decrease in Latin America and Asia (in
December 25 journalists died, in November 28, in October 27, in
September 33, in August 42 and in July 70). In the first half of 2021,
1175 journalists were killed by the virus.
The PEC hopes that this slowdown will continue in 2022 but is worried
by the high number of infections caused by the Omicron variant. It
calls all media workers to take the necessary precautions including
the booster vaccine.
Brazil, India and Peru with the heaviest death toll
Since March 2020, Brazil is the country with the heaviest death toll
with 295 media workers who died from the coronavirus. India is second
with at least 279 victims, ahead of Peru 199, then Mexico 122,
Colombia 79, Bangladesh 68.
In the United States of America at least 66 journalists died with
Covid-19. Italy is the first european country with 61 dead, followed
by Venezuela 59, Ecuador 51, Argentina 47, Indonesia 42, Russia 42,
Iran 34, United Kingdom 33, Turkey 29, Dominican Republic 29, Pakistan
27, Nepal 23, Egypt 22, Bolivia 20, Honduras 19, South Africa 19,
Spain 19 and Ukraine 19.
Next are Panama 17, Poland 14, France 11, Guatemala 11, Nigeria 11,
Afghanistan 10, Nicaragua 10, Zimbabwe 10, Algeria 9, Cuba 9, Paraguay
8, Philippines 7, Uruguay 7, Kazakhstan 5, Kenya 5, Romania 5, Morocco
4, Cameroon 4, Iraq 4.
At least 3 journalists died of complications with Covid-19 in 6
countries : Albania, Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, Portugal, Salvador, and
Sweden.
Two victims were registered in 14 countries : Austria, Belarus,
Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guyana, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, and Uganda.
At least one in 30 countries : Angola, Barbados, Bosnia, Czech
Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kirghizstan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malawi,
Mali, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Zealand, Norway, Palestine,
Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, Togo, Tajikistan, Tunisia, UAE,
and Yemen.
The PEC tally is based on information from local media, national
associations of journalists and regional PEC correspondents.