KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the media shared their personal stories on becoming close contacts of Covid-19 positive cases, the quarantine, the worry and finally relief after being cleared of the disease.
As such, they were unanimous in their view that there is an urgent need for members of the journalistic fraternity to be inoculated against the coronavirus, enabling them to carry out their responsibility to report the news for all.
Terengganu based journalist Nur Diyana Nawwar Ibrahim,36, said before being tested for Covid-19, she was first identified as a close contact to a coronavirus case after covering an event.
"I was told to quarantine immediately on the second day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri. I received information that I am one of the close contacts to another reporter who tested positive and was present at the event I was covering.
"I then tested positive and of course was shocked because I did not have any direct contact with the other reporter as we were practising physical distancing among members of the media.
"But I did not panic because I have been covering the pandemic just like my peers since day one, it was just a surprise but I was not scared. I also had family members who contracted the virus," she told the New Straits Times.
Nur Diyana who writes for The Malaysia Insight portal said the experience she gained covering the pandemic also prepared her, thus she had no issues when was ordered to quarantine at Covid-19 Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre (PKRC) UiTM Chendering for 10 days and the remaining four days at home.
"With the knowledge and awareness that I had gained in covering Covid-19 and news, I remained calm throughout the quarantine (period).
"Luckily, I did not experience any symptoms even after I was declared free from the quarantine," she said.
The downside of contracting the coronavirus, Nur Diyana said, was that there is a waiting period of three to six months before she can be inoculated as the coronavirus is present in her but is nevetheless dormant.
She believes the Covid-19 vaccine could have been given earlier to members of the media seeing the nature of their work required them to be at many locations and meet people from all walks of life.
"I don't mind contracting the virus but it is scary when I place others in danger as well. Thankfully, my husband who is a photojournalist had earlier received his two vaccine doses and his quarantine went well," she said.
Nur Diyana's husband, New Straits Times Press (NSTP) photojournalist Ghazali Kori, 34, who managed to get inoculated under the Terengganu state vaccination programme said he was lucky to receive the two doses as the risk of being a close contact had become minimal.
"Before receiving the vaccine, I had no close contact cases, unfortunately, I became close contact with another case and also Nur Diyana (after inoculation).
"Thankfully, after being identified as a close contact I didn't contract the coronavirus and having immunised (against Covid-19) also give me the support to continue covering the pandemic for the public.
"Since covering the pandemic, I and other photojournalists saw a lot of things firsthand, and I am so grateful to have been vaccinated. I can't bear to have exposed my family to the coronavirus. My wife and I know the risk. Hopefully we can continue to do our job with her getting the vaccine too," he said.
Ghazali said Nur Diyana did not receive the inoculation as she had just recently moved to the east coast state.
Fellow photojournalist, Moganraj Villavan, 30, contracted the coronavirus from his colleague at the office and only knew it days later.
"Our job went on as usual during the pandemic, some had come to the office after an assignment. Unfortunately, one of my colleagues was already infected when we were all in the same space.
"After my colleague tested positive, we were told to undergo the RT-PCR test at a private clinic on May 11. The next day, I was informed that I tested positive and began the quarantine process at home immediately and was told to update my status with Hulu Langat health office via telephone.
"On May 15, I was told to pack my bags and continue my quarantine at Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centres (PKRC) 2.0 at Malaysian Agricultural Exposition Park (MAEPS).
"I had lost my sense of smell and taste during quarantine but now I am feeling better. The doctors told me that it will take time to recover.
"It could have been better if the media was able to receive their vaccine earlier, so that the risk of getting infection is lower," he said.
Moganraj who works for Free Malaysia Today said after contracting the virus, he is now more careful in keeping his distances from his peers at events.
For journalist Isabelle Leong, 27, she experienced a close call with the coronavirus when she attended a physical press conference in Putrajaya on April 28 and was later identified as a close contact.
"I remember this vividly. April 30, approximately 11pm. I was informed by my superior that I have to be quarantined for being a close contact to a photographer at a press conference I attended in Putrajaya.
"I was told to get tested and undergo home quarantine. My worst fear was infecting my parents, family, friends and people I have been in contact with.
"I am staying with my parents in a condo and I do not have a toilet attached to my bedroom. Believe it or not, I was afraid to go to the bathroom, I would sanitise the toilet door handle, the taps, everything," she recalled.
Leong a broadcast journalist for Astro Awani thought the quarantine was going to be the longest 10 days of her life after days being in the forefront covering the country's pandemic situation and other local news.
She said there are challenges when assigned to cover press conferences or events physically.
"I try my best to stay at least six feet away from my colleagues during interviews. However, it is tough to observe physical distancing when we have to doorstop (a term commonly used by reporters when cornering somebody for an unexpected interview) ministers.
"We are only doing our job. But sometimes some ministers insist on having a doorstop interview rather than a proper PC (press conference) because they are "pressed for time".
Following her experience, Leong decided that it was a long wait for the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme and so registered herself for the opt-in AstraZeneca programme which was made available to Malaysians above the age of 18-years.
"I registered during the first round AstraZeneca booking. That was a few days after my Covid-19 scare. At that time, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had just announced that media practitioners will be receiving their vaccines in May, but he did not specifically say when.
"And true enough, it's June 7 today. Media personnel have yet to receive their vaccines. Khairy said media practitioners will start receiving vaccine appointment dates today and inoculation will start on Wednesday (June 9).
"I had to do it for myself and my family. I am always out and about, going for assignments and meeting people. To protect my family, I have to protect myself," Leong who now writes for the news portal, The Vibes, said.