Not all pregnant women are required to undergo COVID-19 tests when they go to a hospital for obstetrical care: AAP government to HC

t all pregnant women are required to undergo COVID-19 tests when y go to a hospital for obstetrical care (child birth), AAP government told Delhi High Court on Wednesday. submission was me before a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan by Delhi government on affidavit which stated that only suspected cases of COVID-19 are tested for viral infection.

However, obstetrical care cant be delayed for want of testing, Delhi government said, ding that t all symptomatic pregnant women would be tested. Only those coming from hotspots or those who have h contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 are tested for viral infection, government has said. Taking te of affidavit, court said it was t going to furr monitor case as a clear set of guidelines have been put in place by government.

"Eugh and equate have been taken to expedite testing and in certain cases testing is also t required," bench said.

It furr asked Delhi government to ensure that time taken from when a healthcare provider decides to go for COVID-19 testing of a pregnant woman, sample collection and declaration of results, all toger ought t to take more than 24 hours. It also asked government to disseminate latest guidelines on testing of pregnant women to all of its and private hospitals in national capital.

With se directions, court disposed of a PIL seeking expeditious testing and speedy declaration of results of pregnant women going to hospitals for child birth. detailed order is yet to be me available. On July 9, court h pulled up Delhi government for t clarifying wher every pregnant woman who goes to a hospital for delivery or urgent treatment is required to undergo COVID-19 test, symptomatic or t, saying a genuine problem has been turned into a "bureaucratic nightmare".

high court h also said if test is required n sample collection and declaration of results should be done in a minimum period of time. Delhi government h earlier filed an affidavit stating that prior COVID-19 test was t mandatory for mitting pregnant women in hospitals for in-patient interventions, including surgery and deliveries, and in emergent situations, treatment would t be denied for want of test results.

test can be conducted simultaneously with treatment and if result comes out to be positive, pregnant woman would ideally be transferred to a dedicated COVID-19 hospital for furr manment, Delhi government h told high court. It h also said that it has "expanded" use of Rapid Antigen Testing at hospitals to ensure availability of test results in quick time and this will furr take care of difficulties being faced by people/patients, including pregnant women.