Six pregnant women have so far died with Covid-19 in Arakan State during the pandemic’s ongoing third wave, with some having passed before delivering their babies, according to a DMG tally of the death toll to date.

“A pregnant woman was admitted to the hospital as she had tested positive for Covid-19. She delivered her baby yesterday, but stillbirth. I heard that her oxygen level was low. She died very soon after she delivered the baby,” said Ko Japan Gyi, chairperson of the Lay Waddy Kula Rakhita charity group, describing one of the latest cases, in Kyaukphyu Township on Sunday.

A healthcare worker from Sittwe General Hospital said a mother and newborn died soon after she had delivered her baby on August 8.

According to the list compiled by DMG, two women each from Kyaukphyu and Sittwe towns, and one each from Minbya and Maungdaw towns, have so far died with Covid-19 before or after delivering their babies amid the pandemic’s third wave.

The woman from Minbya Township was five months pregnant when she died.

Dr. Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the Arakan State Department of Public Health (DPH), said: “I am not aware of the exact death toll of pregnant women. When the death certificate is issued, only the name is shown. It does not mention ‘pregnant woman’ or something like that.”

He urged pregnant women to do exercises to ensure their lungs are strong and take care to monitor their oxygen levels.

During the ongoing third wave, there have been 3,246 coronavirus cases and 285 deaths in Arakan State as of August 8, according to the state’s DPH.