Palakkad: The health department has made COVID-19 tests mandatory for pregnant women to prevent the gynecology wards at the government hospitals in Kerala from being affected.
If the infection is confirmed after the pregnant woman is admitted to the hospital, then the treatment facility has to be shut.
The women have to first confirm that they are not infected by undergoing any of the tests such as the RT PCR, TrueNAT, or antigen.
If the results of the tests turn positive, the women would be moved to the COVID hospitals. In emergency situations, the patient has to undergo the antigen tests at the hospital itself.
The health department is taking this precautionary measure as the number of pregnant women seeking treatment at the government hospitals has increased amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those from containment zones, or from other states are now increasingly depending on the government hospitals. Women with fever or other symptoms are also turned away from other hospitals.
COVID-19 treatment at private hospitals
Thiruvananthapuram: Twenty-four private hospitals in the state have started COVID-19 treatment. The treatment is provided at a rate fixed by the government.
Around 100 hospitals had agreed to COVID-19 treatment after the state government requested their help in combating the dreaded disease. Arrangements would be made for COVID-19 treatment at 50 hospitals by next week.
