One-Month-Old Baby in Bengkulu Dies After Contracting COVID

TheIndonesia.co - Bengkulu health office has confirmed that a 28-day-old baby has died after contracting COVID-19.

Head of the province’s health office Herwan Antoni said the baby was from capital city Bengkulu and died in M. Yunus Regional General Hospital (RSUD).

“It’s true that a 28-day-old baby passed away in hospital, and it is understood that the baby tested positive for COVID-19,” Antoni confirmed on Friday, August 12, as reported by Antara.

The mother initially took the baby to a public health facility (locally known as puskesmas) on an evening when the baby would not stop crying and had refused to be fed. The baby also reportedly looked pale.

The baby was then referred to Bhayangkara Hospital, but the condition worsened, so the baby was taken to RSUD M. Yunus.

“Upon arrival at RSUD M. Yunus, the baby experienced shortness of breath, so PCR test was carried out, and the result was positive,” Antoni confirmed.

Head of Bengkulu disease prevention and control office Oktomi Harlena further revealed that test results showed no other family members contracted COVID-19.

How, when, and where the baby contracted the virus, therefore, remains unknown. However, it is predicted that the baby got the virus while in Bhayangkara Hospital or RSUD M. Yunus.