Pregnant health worker tests positive for COVID-19 in Ekiti

By SODIQ OYELEKE

A pregnant health worker has tested positive for coronavirus in Ekiti State, making her the third infected person in the state.

The PUNCH reports that the pregnant woman was at the point of labour when it was discovered that she had been infected.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State made this known in an address delivered on COVID-19 cases in the state, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent.

He narrated that the pregnant woman delivered safely without announcing the status of the child.

He said, “Sadly, Ekiti State has confirmed a third #COVID-19 positive case. This new case is a pregnant 29-year-old female Community Health Worker in Ikorodu, Lagos State who sneaked into Ekiti State overnight on Friday, April 10, 2020 suspectedly to take advantage of our free maternal health care in spite of the lockdown.

“She presented at a State Comprehensive Primary Healthcare facility in active labour on Monday April 13, 2020. After prolonged labour with fatal distress, she was referred to a teaching hospital but decided to go to a private hospital instead. A caesarean section was performed on the patient and the baby was delivered safely.

“However, she suffered a cardiac arrest and was referred to the Federal Teaching Hospital Ido Ekiti, where she is currently unconscious. The suspicion of #COVID-19 infection and subsequent testing was at the Federal Tertiary institution.”

The governor explained that the baby is being monitored, adding that the private facility where she initially attempted to deliver had been sealed.

He said, “The Ekiti State #COVID19 Taskforce has already commenced contact tracing of the new case as at this morning, we have over 30 primary contacts on our list already.

“The baby is alive and under surveillance while the private clinic has been sealed off and medical personnel who interacted with this case during her obstetrics and gynaecology emergency have been contacted and put in self-isolation.”

Fayemi said that as of Saturday, Ekiti has had 29 suspected cases, two confirmed cases, and “tracing 49 persons of interest before this new case”. (The PUNCH)