Antigua and Barbuda marked a grim milestone this week after a seven month old, who contracted coronavirus (COVID-19), had died while being treated at the Sir Lester Bird Mount St. John’s Medical Centre (SLBMSJMC).
The baby boy is the youngest person in Antigua and Barbuda to have contracted the virus and died.
SLBMSJMC said the child was brought into the hospital in a critical condition on Wednesday around 8:02 am.
Dr Albert Duncan, SLBMSJMC Medical Director said: “Our sincere condolences go to the family, and we ask the media to respect their privacy at this difficult time.”
“Any premature death is tragic news, but the death of any child is particularly sad – and the first death of a child in Antigua and Barbuda following a positive test for COVID-19 is particularly significant.”
He continued: “The lesson we’re hoping the community learns from this is that, while the old are much more likely to die from coronavirus infection, the young are certainly not immune from it.”
“Children can catch the virus, and while they are more likely to have mild symptoms, they can still pass it on to others who are more vulnerable. In rare cases, they can also get seriously ill, or die, as this distressing case shows.”
Minister of Public Information Melford Nicholas offered condolences to the family of the deceased and said contact tracing is currently ongoing to determine how the baby was infected with COVID-19.