A six-month old baby, with congenital heart disease lost the battle of life due to coronavirus in the city on Thursday.
The baby girl named Ritika, from Phagwara Punjab was admitted in PGIMER on April 9 with congenital malformations and had to undergo a surgery. The cause of death is reported to be refractory shock, pulmonary artery hypertension and Covid-19.
Her parents, grandparents and all the 54 doctors and health workers, who were treating the baby patient have been tested negative and found free from any infection. The family members and healthcare workers have been quarantined, as a precautionary measure.
“After being admitted to the PGIMER, the baby girl was very sick and not fit for surgical interventions for reported pathologies. She was kept on ventilator and required medication. Her health status deteriorated over the days. She was tested for Covid-19 on April 21 and was tested positive,” said an official spokesman of PGIMER on Thursday.
“The baby’s health condition continued to deteriorate further and she expired at 12:47 pm on April 23. The cause of death was reported to be refractory shock, pulmonary artery hypertension and Covid-19,” the spokesman said.
“We are investigating how the baby acquired Covid-19 infection. Given that the incubation period of Covid-19 infection is generally up to two weeks (but can be variable), it is possible that the baby may have been incubating the infection at the time of admission to PGIMER,” the spokesman added.
Earlier, the baby was hospitalized in a corporate hospital in Ludhiana for 36 days and was subsequently referred to PGIMER for corrective surgery.
The baby was cremated at the crematorium in Sector 25 here.
After the unfortunate incident, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore on Thursday directed all the three medical institutions including PGIMER, GMCH-32 and GMSH-16 in Chandigarh to focus on critical non-Covid cases as well.
On the other hand, the Faculty Association, PGIMER demanded screening or testing for Covid-19 of patients visiting the PGIMER with immediate effect, while raising concerns to the safety of healthcare workers and other patients admitted in the institute.
