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COMIC: Why A Pregnant St. Louis Doctor Chose To Leave The Front Lines

Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis is an infectious disease doctor with the Washington University School of Medicine.
Eli Chen | St. Louis Public Radio

When the coronavirus began spreading in the St. Louis region, Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis was about seven months pregnant. 

Like other doctors at the Washington University School of Medicine, she began to prepare herself in early March for the risks of treating patients who could be contagious with a dangerous virus that experts knew very little about. 

But after examining a patient who had a fever, cough and other symptoms of COVID-19, she started to wonder if seeing patients in person would be too risky for her and her child.

Credit Eli Chen | St. Louis Public Radio

Credit Eli Chen | St. Louis Public Radio

Credit Eli Chen | St. Louis Public Radio
Credit Eli Chen | St. Louis Public Radio

David Kovaluk contributed to this illustrated report.

Follow Eli on Twitter: @StoriesByEli

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Eli is the science and environment reporter at St. Louis Public Radio.