The Ministry of Health notes an increase in cases of pregnant women contracting Covid-19, with 68 expectant mothers testing positive for the virus over the span of just this past week alone.

The revelation was made during Wednesday’s Covid-19 media briefing by Director of Women’s Health Dr Adesh Sirjusingh, who described the trend as alarming.

“There are 383 pregnant women in our database who have contracted Covid-19. I was here just a week ago and that figure was 315. So an additional 68 women, since we last spoke, would have contracted Covid-19, that is very alarming,” Dr. Sirjusingh. 

“Pregnancy of course is considered a high risk situation. You are more likely to end up getting very ill, ending up in an ICU and worldwide, we have seen maternal deaths. 

Currently, the Ministry has approved the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for women past their first trimester of pregnancy.

Latest statistics show that as of yesterday, 172 pregnant women have taken the vaccine, which Dr. Sirjusingh said was “a good start”.

To date, 383 pregnant women have contracted the virus locally.

The Ministry is hoping to have 1,000 pregnant women vaccinated per month as the program is rolled out.