Six-year-old Linden girl did not die from COVID-19

In a statement, the Acting Medical Superintendent of the Linden Hospital, Joseph London confirmed that the results were negative but noted that her cause of death would be listed as respiratory failure.

Six-year-old Linden girl did not die from COVID-19

A 6-year-old girl who recently died in Linden while experiencing trouble with her breathing was not a victim of the coronavirus.

Tests carried out on the remains of the child have returned a negative result for the coronavirus.

The tests were ordered when the girl died suddenly after being rushed to the Linden Hospital with severe respiratory symptoms.

In a statement, the Acting Medical Superintendent of the Linden Hospital, Joseph London confirmed that the results were negative but noted that her cause of death would be listed as respiratory failure.

He reported that the girl was taken to the hospital for mild fever, shortness of breath along with tummy pains. He said that the pediatric team immediately conducted some X-rays and other tests after, which it was recommended that she be transferred to Georgetown for a higher level of care.

The doctor revealed that within 90 minutes of arrangements being made for the child’s transfer, she passed away.

 “While we were waiting to transfer her, she was not maintaining oxygen over 70, which made her unstable for transfer. She was resuscitated to comfortable level and her condition continued to worsen resulting in her dying. Her condition was suspicious; however, we were unable to conduct a test on her,” Dr London reported.

However, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr Karen Boyle believes that samples from the child should have been taken before her body was transferred to the morgue.

“It was important for the medical staff to have tested her within 24 hours after she would have died”, Dr. Boyle said.

The samples from the dead girl was taken off some 36 hours after she was placed in the morgue.

“The results are that the child did not die from COVID 19 and while the samples were taken off some hours after and there are several speculations, we cannot say that it was COVID 19 as the results say negative. We will nevertheless have to continue being vigilant and should we be confronted by a similar situation we are cognizant of the procedures that must be followed in taking off the samples,” the Acting Medical Superindentent of the Linden Hospital made clear.

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