KAVEREPALANCHOWK: The second PCR test report of a newborn baby whose mother had died of COVID-19 a week ago has also come negative, the Dhulikhel hospital confirmed.

A 29-year-old woman of Ramche of Bahrabise municipality-9 in Sindhupalchowk died after she was taken to the hospital on May 14. Later, she was confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19.

According to hospital administrative director Dr. Ramesh Makaju, the 17-day-old child has been discharged today after he was tested negative for the virus during two consecutive tests.

Initially, the child had mild jaundice and he had developed tiny skin rashes which have been cured now. Besides, the COVID-19 test reports of woman’s relatives who had close contacts with her are also negative.

The child has been advised to keep in quarantine for a week in the respective district and undergo a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) before taking him to the home.

As said by Dr. Makaju, the child or other members in the family need the next round of PCR test if they develop any symptoms of COVID-19.

The woman had given birth to the child at the Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital on May 6 through normal delivery. She was discharged on the following day and was taken to the Sindhupalchowk-based home, said the child’s father.

After few days, she complained of breathing complications and was taken to Dhulikhel after her the RDT test result at the Barhabise-based hospital showed the development of anti-body on her body.

The Ministry of Health and Population last Saturday confirmed that her death was due to COVID-19. This is the first case of COVID-19 fatality in the country. To date, the death cases have reached three.