Minnesota hospital admits newborn baby with COVID-19

A newborn baby is among the Minnesota children recently hospitalized with COVID-19.

Jenni Gibbens, the baby’s mother, said the hospital officials told her they knew what the results of her baby were, and they knew her son tested positive for COVID-19.

She said her son, Harrison, was hospitalized at 25 days old in July, making him one of the youngest COVID-19 patients in the state.

Gibbens said it had been a stressful time for the family, especially when she was pregnant during a pandemic and also gave birth during the riots in the Twin Cities.

She later disclosed the whole family ended up testing positive for COVID-19, including her husband who showed symptoms in early July, losing his sense of smell and taste and spiking high fever.

Gibbens said when it all started, she was on high alert for her children while she hoped they would not come down with the virus.

The mother said she noticed her child’s temperature rose to 100.4, so she immediately called the nurse line for urgent medical support.

Harrison stayed in the hospital for three days, allowing for the doctors to monitor his fever, oxygen level and heart function.

She said Harrison’s symptoms never worsened and the family was grateful for the care they received.

“Harrison is officially taking the title of COVID-19 survivor at 27 days old,” she said.

“Most of the kids that are coming in are in for support, IV fluids, observation, just making sure they’re not going to get worse,” said Nurse Practitioner Patsy Stinchfield, senior director of infection control at Children’s Minnesota.

The youngest patient they have seen so far was two weeks old, according to Patsy.

Health authorities said 72 kids have been admitted to Children’s Minnesota with COVID-19, with about 10 requiring support with ventilators.

Minnesota has reported 9,004 cases of children under the age of 20 who have tested positive for the COVID-19, including 1,407 kids under the age of six.