How a newborn baby caused the Government of Mongolia to resign
On January 20th, A local news, Eagle TV, was broadcasting the now common scene of COVID-19 patients being transferred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital. The episode was very short not more than several seconds long, but it caused the Government of Mongolia to resign. It showed a COVID-19 infected mother who just gave a birth several hours ago being transferred from the maternity hospital just wearing a bathrobe and flippers.
Within moments the screenshot of the video became viral, people were outraged why a mother who just gave birth was being taken outside at -20 Celsius without wearing any winter clothes. They were appalled at the negligence of the medical staff who were responsible for the transfer.
Within a half an hour Sodbaatar, Deputy Prime Minister and the head of the committee tasked with fighting COVID-19, issued an apology and promised to to punish the wrongdoers
The next morning the Minister of Health, Head of Infectious Hospital, a doctor who was responsible for the transfer have all apologized. But it was too little, too late.
A spontaneous crowd started to gather at the main square demanding the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health to resign. More and more people gathered to protest. By the evening the crowd grew even larger.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health all tended in their resignations. Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Khurelsukh issued an apology to the mother and her newborn child, and also resigned together with the whole cabinet.
So what was the name given to the newborn?
Mongolia has a fine tradition of giving names of the defeated foes. Chinggis Khan was named Temujin when he was born. It was given in honor of the defeated foe. The boy has followed the tradition and given the name Khurelsukh, after the Prime Minister. What a way to start the life.
