A Belfast hospital has not tested a baby believed to have Covid-19 because there is no treatment for the virus, his mum has said.
Mum Naomi McCaughley, who is five months pregnant, asked for prayers last night after she was sent home with her son, Jude, who is 11 months old.
The mum from Ballynahinch, Co Down, says staff at the Ulster Hospital advised her they were 99% certain little Jude is infected with Coronavirus - but they refused to test him.
She said: “They didn’t test him and when I asked them why not, they said it was because there’s no treatment for Coronavirus.
“I do get where they are coming from. A test doesn’t change anything for the hospital because either way there’s no treatment for this virus.
“But I’m a mum of a young baby and I’m five months pregnant so for my own peace of mind I think it would be a lot easier to sleep if I knew for sure.
“We’re back home now and we’re in isolation for seven days. Jude has had a temperature 38 degrees for more than 10 hours but they’ve sent us home and told me to just keep an eye on him. They said if he fits to call 999.
“So this is us for seven days. I can’t believe what’s actually happening to the world at the minute. Please pray for us.”
Naomi said she was advised that her partner, Jude’s father, did not need to isolate despite them sharing the same home.
She explained: “The doctor said apparently only I need to because I’m Jude’s mummy and I would spend more time with him and be closer to each other. But he has said Jude’s dad has only to isolate if he shows symptoms.”
It is unclear whether the tot will be added to the list of the other 45 people who have so far tested positive for Coronavirus in Northern Ireland.
