MANJERI: Relatives of the four-month-old baby who died at Payyanad in Malappuram came forward with serious allegations against the government and the health department. The baby, who was under treatment for congenital disease and underweight, was placed under isolation at the mother and baby ward of Kozhikode Medical College. The baby was confirmed of COVID-19 on further examination and her treatment was arranged by a special medical board formed. However, the family alleged that the authorities concealed the information that she has been diagnosed with the virus for 17 hours. The baby’s mother and aunt were with her in the hospital. Even after confirming the virus, the hospital authorities did not provide any mask or gloves for them. The family knew about it through CM’s press meet and said the information was hid from the doctor who treated the baby.

The health minister and the chief minister had asserted earlier that once the disease is confirmed, the details should be handed over to the hospital before the chief minister’s press meet. This did not happen in the baby’s case.

The explanation of the doctor of Prashanthi Hospital in Manjeri where the baby was first treated and the father prove that the ministers’ statement is false. Dr Joy of the hospital said though the virus was confirmed on the baby on April 21st at 6.45 pm, he came to know about it on 22nd evening. The baby’s father Ashraf said they came to know about it on the 22nd via chief minister’s press meet. The baby’s mother and aunt were isolated from the baby after 29 hours of the confirmation of the virus. Till then, no security precautions were taken. Doctors and employees of Manjeri Hospital went into quarantine after 24 hours. In the meanwhile, the test results of the two who were with the baby tested negative. Not only that, the authorities of the medical college had obtained the baby’s second test result. However, they were not willing to reveal the information. The baby’s paternal uncle said the mystery behind it should be exposed.