Coronavirus: Over $161,564 raised for family of pregnant Ghanaian nurse who died in UK

Over $161,564 (£130,000) has been raised for the family and new born baby of a pregnant Ghanaian nurse who died after contracting Coronavirus in the UK.

Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong, 28, who died on Sunday was delivered successfully of a daughter by caesarean section, the BBC reports.

She worked as a nurse at Luton and Dunstable Hospital in the south of England for five years.

The Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said Mary tested positive on April 5 and was admitted to the hospital on April 7. She died five days later.

A GoFundMe page was set up on Wednesday morning by her friends to help raise funds for the baby and Agyapong’s family. More than £100,000 was raised by Thursday morning.

Colleagues have paid tribute to Ms Agyapong, who also went by her married name Mary Boateng, on the fundraising page.

"Mary was a blessing to everyone she came across and her love, care and sincerity will be irreplaceable,” organiser Rhoda Asiedu wrote.

"I am raising funds for her immediate family; her husband, AJ and her baby girl little Mary, who was born at the time of her demise."

According to the hospital, the baby is “doing well,” although it is not known if it has been infected with the coronavirus. Agyapong’s husband was also tested for COVID-19 and is currently self-isolating.

David Carter, chief executive of the Bedfordshire trust, told the BBC she was a "fantastic nurse and a great example of what we stand for in this trust. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Mary's family and friends at this sad time.”