Belagavi, May 2 (PTI): As many as 12 journalists, who had undergone RT-PCR tests to cover the Belgaum Lok Sabha bypoll counting, have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Sunday.

A total of 29 journalists had undergone the tests as mandated by the Election Commission, said the officials.

The 12 are from print and television news channels, they said.

Following the medical report, Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi asked the officials to quarantine the scribes and arrange for their medical treatment.

The counting for bypoll, held on April 17, took place today. The bypoll was necessitated by the death of the sitting BJP MP Suresh Angadi due to coronavirus. The BJP has fielded Angadi's widow Mangala Suresh Angadi while Satish Jarkiholi, the Yamakanmardi MLA and Congress State working president, is the Congress candidate.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)