Newborn baby of COVID-19 patient dies in Nepalgunj

KATHMANDU, August 11: A newborn baby delivered by a COVID-19 patient has died at Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital. A 28-year-old woman, who is a resident of Chaurjahari Municipality in Western Rukum, was admitted to Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital (NMCTH), Kohalpur for delivery. She gave birth to a son at the hospital on Saturday.

Initially, the woman had gone to Bheri Provincial Hospital for the delivery, but after she tested positive for COVID-19, the hospital referred her to NMCTH.

“The baby had an unnatural birth and was born through the C-section on July 8 at around 9:30 pm,” said the NMCTH administration.

According to the administration, the woman was 39 weeks pregnant when she gave birth to the baby boy weighing 2.7 kg at birth.

The baby died at around 1 am on Monday. However, the condition of the mother is normal, claim the hospital authorities.

“We are still not sure if the baby contracted the virus. His throat swab sample has been collected and sent for testing,” said Nitish Kumar Kanaodiya, the assistance director of the hospital.

The woman’s husband has also tested positive for COVID-19 and is staying in isolation in Banke.