A baby died days before he tested positive of COVID-19 in Batangas province, a city mayor said.
Mayor Eric Africa of Lipa City said the 23-day-old baby is from Brgy. Lodlod who died on April 5. He said the Department of Health released the test results of the newborn after his death.
The Department of Health has yet to confirm the report. It also stopped releasing case profiles of recent COVID-19 fatalities since April 3.
“Please pray for the soul of their little angel,” Africa wrote on Facebook.
The baby is believed to be the youngest COVID-19 fatality from the pandemic virus that has already infected 4,076 people in the country and killed 207.
As per the latest health reports, Batangas reported 60 infections in the province and 12 fatalities.
A seven-year-old child form the Ilocos region also succumbed to the new coronavirus last week. She also passed away five days before they found out that she tested positive of the pandemic disease.
In Mindoro, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Oriental Mindoro province is a 21-month-old baby. The baby girl who is from Barangay Ilaya in Calapan City, stayed in Alabang in Metro Manila from March 5 to 12, 2020.
The new coronavirus knows no age, social status, and gender. Anyone could be infected, but the elderly and those with existing medical conditions are the most vulnerable to die of the disease.
WHO answers COVID-19 Question on Pregnancy and Babies
Should pregnant women be tested for COVID-19?
Testing protocols and eligibility vary depending on where you live. However, WHO recommendations are that pregnant women with symptoms of COVID-19 should be prioritized for testing. If they have COVID-19, they may need specialized care.
We still do not know if a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can pass the virus to her fetus or baby during pregnancy or delivery. To date, the virus has not been found in samples of amniotic fluid or breastmilk.
Can women with COVID-19 breastfeed?
Yes. Women with COVID-19 can breastfeed if they wish to do so. They should practice respiratory hygiene during feeding, wearing a mask where available, wash hands before and after touching the baby, and routinely clean and disinfect surfaces they have touched.