A heavily pregnant nurse who had tested positive for COVID-19 has died.
According to media reports in the United Kingdom, Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong, 28, underwent an emergency caesarean to deliver her baby girl.
The baby girl is understood to be alive and being cared for.
It is however not clear if the baby has tested positive for COVID-19.
Colleagues at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, where Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong worked described her as “a fabulous nurse and a great example of what we stand for”.
An internal email to staff explained the decision to perform an emergency cesarean was taken after Mary’s condition deteriorated.
Doctors initially thought she was showing signs of improvements afterwards, but her symptoms got worse again and she passed away on Sunday.
And the NHS Trust’s chief executive, David Carter, said the survival of her baby daughter was a “beacon of light at this very dark time”.
In a statement, he said: “It is with great sadness that I can confirm the death of one of our nurses, Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong, who passed away on Sunday (12th April).”
“Mary worked here for five years and was a highly valued and loved member of our team, a fantastic nurse and a great example of what we stand for in this Trust.”
“She tested positive for COVID-19 after being tested on 5th of April and was admitted to the hospital on the 7th April. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Mary’s family and friends at this sad time. We ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this time.”
Some are harder than others to hold back the tears
RIP Nurse Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong. On its own 28 is a cruel age to be taken by this virus. Leaving a newly born baby behind is the absolute pits. I hope God protects your soul until you can be with your baby again, one day ❤️🇬🇭🙏 pic.twitter.com/JdkJvBW8Fd
— Tory Fibs (@ToryFibs) April 15, 2020
Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong, is the second foreign-based nurse who has reportedly died of the Coronavirus disease.
Earlier this month, the former head nurse of Jacobi Medical Center’s psychiatric unit, Freda Ocran also died after testing positive for COVID-19.
Freda Ocran before her death had complained about the lack of coronavirus precautions and testing while working at the Jacobi Medical Center in New York.
“She had concerns, especially with working with patients and other staff and how long it was taking to be tested,” Kwame Ocran, 25, said of his 50-year-old mom.
Ghana’s Consulate in New York requests for information on deceased Ghanaians
The Ghana Mission to the United Nations and Consulate-General of Ghana in New York have indicated that “a number of Ghanaians” have passed away from the novel coronavirus in the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The missions, in a statement, did not give the exact number of Ghanaians who have passed away from the virus.
The Consulate is said to be making “every effort to track the welfare of the Ghanaian community” amid the pandemic.
It has also requested information from Ghanaians in the three states who have any information on deceased Ghanaians “to duly notify the Consulate-General or the Information Officer of the Ghana Mission”.
