Covid increases risk of grave illness and death in pregnant women – study

The review of studies found that around 3% of pregnant women with Covid were admitted to intensive care – four times the figure for uninfected women. Photograph: Thanasis Zovoilis/Getty Images

Women are more likely to die in pregnancy if they catch Covid, according to researchers, who found the infection raised the risk of a swath of serious illnesses for mothers and their newborns.

Reports throughout the pandemic have highlighted how pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the virus, with doctors urging women to take up the offer of Covid vaccination to reduce the risk to themselves and their children.