However doctors at the Antoine Beclere hospital in Paris were able to confirm a child was a carrier of the virus just one hour after its birth – and believe the infection may have passed through the placenta in utero.
Outlining their case study in journal Nature Communications, researchers said a pregnant 23-year-old was admitted to hospital in March with a fever and severe cough.
Doctors in France believe they may have recorded the first proven case of a baby being infected with the coronavirus in the womb.
Medical professionals have spotted a number of instances of newborn babies having contracted the Covid-19 – with one such case noted by researchers in China back in February.
After testing positive for Covid-19, her baby was born three days later by caesarean. Tests one hour after birth, then again three and 18 days later, all showed positive results for the presence of the virus.
Nancy holds hands with Nichollette and Ryan as she experiences contractions in a birthing tub
Nancy Pedroza, 27, who is pregnant, sits next to Ryan Morgan, 30, her partner and father to their unborn child, as they relax at Pedroza’s parent’s house in Forth Worth, Texas, where they currently live, during the coronavirus outbreak
Nancy Pedroza attends an appointment with her licensed midwives Susan Taylor, 40, who checks her stomach, and Amanda Prouty, 39, in Taylor’s home office at her house
Nancy takes a brisk walk to try and speed up her contractions with Ryan and her midwives near Taylor’s home where Pedroza plans to give birth
