Tests not a must for pregnant women, HC told
Delhi records 1,647 new cases, 41 deaths in last 24 hrs ■ 95,699 have recovered ■
Not all pregnant women are required to undergo Covid-19 tests when they go to a hospital for child birth, the AAP government told the Delhi high court on Wednesday. The submission was made before a bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan by the Delhi government on affidavit which stated that only suspected cases of Covid-19 are tested for the viral infection.
However, obstetrical care cannot be delayed for want of testing, the Delhi government said, adding that not all symptomatic pregnant women would be tested. Only those coming from hotspots or those who have had contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19 are tested for the viral infection, the government has said.
Taking note of the affidavit, the court said it was not going to further monitor the case as a clear set of guidelines have been put in place by the government. “Enough and adequate have been taken to expedite testing and in certain cases testing is also not required,” the bench said.
It further asked the Delhi government to ensure that time taken from when a healthcare provider decides to go for Covid-19 testing of a pregnant woman, the sample collection and the declaration of results, all together ought not to take more than 24 hours. It also asked the government to disseminate the latest guidelines on testing of pregnant women to all of its and private hospitals in the city.
With these directions, the court disposed of a PIL seeking expeditious testing and speedy declaration of results of pregnant women going to hospitals for child birth.
The detailed order is yet to be made available.
On July 9, the court had pulled up the Delhi government for not clarifying whether every pregnant woman who goes to a hospital for delivery or urgent treatment is required to undergo Covid-19 test, symptomatic or not, saying a genuine problem has been turned into a “bureaucratic nightmare”. The high court had also said if the test is required then sample collection and declaration of results should be done in a minimum period of time.
The Delhi government had earlier filed an affidavit stating that prior Covid-19 test was not mandatory for admitting pregnant women in hospitals for in-patient interventions.
◗ OBSTETRICAL CARE cannot be delayed for want of testing, the Delhi govt said, adding that not all symptomatic pregnant women would be tested