A 20-day-old infant, who tested positive for COVID-19, passed away at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Hospital Director Dr. G. Wijesuriya stated yesterday. This is believed to be the youngest COVID-19 death in the country. 

Dr. Wijesuriya said that medical professionals believed the cause of death was COVID-19 with pneumonia. “Based on the child’s health condition, we see that this child suffered from an acute case of pneumonia before this,” Dr. Wijesuriya added.

He went on to say that medical care for the infant was sought only after the child became extremely ill.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, 142 COVID-19 deaths have been detected in the island to date. Of the deaths, 24 occurred in December and 98 occurred in November.

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