COVID-19: Wife of critically ill Singapore-based Bangladeshi worker gives birth to firstborn
SINGAPORE — The wife of a 39-year-old Bangladeshi man who was critically ill from COVID-19 here has given birth to their firstborn on Monday afternoon (30 March).
The man has also been cleared of the virus and was transferred out of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID)’s intensive care unit a few days ago.
These updates were shared by non-government organisation Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening, along with a photo of the newborn. Yahoo News Singapore understands that the baby is a boy.
The centre – an initiative of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers’ Federation (SNEF) – said that both mother and child are healthy and doing well.
It added that it was “especially pleased” to have been able to facilitate a video conference call between the wife and her husband’s medical team, in the presence of the man, a day before her delivery.
The MWC said, “We are grateful to his doctors who helped to make this last-minute request possible even though he remains under sedation, and, in the words of his wife – for allowing her to seek strength from seeing her beloved before the delivery!”
Separately, the centre added that, as shared by his family, the man – identified as case 42 – is still currently under close medical attention and treatment in the normal intensive care unit due to the complications brought on by the virus.
“His condition remains critical, but we are encouraged by this latest development and continue to ask for everyone's prayers for him,” the MWC said.
“His wife wishes to convey her thanks to everyone in Singapore who has shown concern and support for her husband and their family. In particular, she conveys her gratitude to the group of medical professionals who continue to give their best to treat her husband despite this stressful period where all the healthcare workers are stretched.”
The MWC said it will continue to monitor the man’s condition closely.
The man had first reported developing symptoms on 1 February, and went to a general practitioner clinic two days later, before going to Changi General Hospital (CGH) on 5 February.
On 7 February, he went for a follow-up appointment at Bedok polyclinic and was admitted to the CGH’s ICU on the same day.
He tested positive for the virus on the afternoon of 8 February and was transferred to the NCID.
The Bangladesh High Commission had said on 21 February that the man was in "very critical” condition, having had respiratory and kidney problems as well as pneumonia prior to being infected with the coronavirus.
Yahoo News Singapore has reached out to the High Commission for comment.
The man is the first of five cases – all Bangladeshi nationals – linked to a construction site at Seletar Aerospace Heights, one of several identified clusters in Singapore.
To date, Singapore has 926 cases of COVID-19, of which at least 228 have fully recovered and have been discharged from hospital. 22 remain in the intensive care unit.
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