MAHABUBNAGAR: Four media persons working for vernacular news channels have been quarantined here after it was learnt that they had lunch at the residence of an MLA, who is under home quarantine in neighbouring Gadwal town recently, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
Gadwal town headquarters of Jogulamba-Gadwal district was declared as Red Zone by the Centre due to considerable number of COVID-19 cases.
Sources close to the development said another five who also had lunch with the MLA will also be quarantined.
The official said the legislator was already in self-home quarantine since April 10 after he came to know that two persons who attended a funeral where he was also present, tested COVID-19 positive.
However, the MLA tested negative of the virus.
"As a precautionary measure, the four media persons were kept in quarantine. They do not have any symptoms of COVID-19. They are all doing fine. They are asymptomatic," the official told PTI.
Another five journalists who were also present at the luncheon meeting with the legislator are also on their way to the quarantine centre, sources said adding the officials are on alert as one of the stringers of a TV channel in Gadwal tested positive.
Currently, the journo is undergoing treatment.