Kathmandu, Sept. 9 -- Binaj Gurubacharya was in full protective gear, and stood apart from the crowd to observe riot police clash with protesters at the Machhindranath chariotfestival on 3 September in Patan.

As the Nepal correspondent for the international news agency Associated Press for the past 25 years, he is used to covering conflict and violence. But reporting on Covid-19 has been a completely different kind of professional hazard.

"No story is worth risking your life for," said Gurubacharya, whose news stories from Nepal's war, earthquake and political upheavals have been used by the media all over the world.

Reporters like Gurubacharya cannot do their work sitting at home, they have to be right there to witness events first ha...