TheCable

A baby in South Africa has died from COVID-19, two days after being born.

The two-day-old baby was among 27 new COVID-19 related deaths the country announced on Thursday.

A statement from the South African government said the baby was born prematurely “and therefore had lung difficulties which required ventilation support immediately after birth.”

“The mother had tested positive for COVID-19 and the child subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 as well,” the statement read.

“It is important to appreciate the complexities of the underlying condition of pre-maturity.

“We extend a special word of comfort to the mother of this child and salute the neonatologists, nurses and all allied and technical personnel who had the difficult task of caring for the neonate to the end.”

The baby’s death brings to 339 the total number of people that have died from COVID-19 in South Africa; more than 18,000 have been infected.

John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centre for Disease Control, told the BBC, the baby is likely the youngest victim of COVID-19 in the continent.

In April, a day-old baby died from the disease in the United States after the mother was infected months to delivery.