Order says expectant mothers should undergo Covid test two weeks before delivery
BENGALURU:
In a fresh diktat, the Karnataka government has ordered that Covid-19 tests be conducted only on those who have ILI and SARI symptoms. Furthermore, the order says expectant mothers should undergo a Covid test two weeks prior to delivery.
Dr Arundhati Chandrasekhar, Director of the National Health Mission, in the order issued on Sunday evening, said that Covid-19 tests should be used ‘effectively’ to identify and treat infected people in the backdrop of the sudden spike of cases in the state.
Targets for testing dropped in Karnataka state. Here are the criteria for testing. pic.twitter.com/9Kx3EeCSZa
— Dr Giridhara R Babu (@epigiri) April 25, 2021
Currently, testing is being done even on those who clearly do not need it, and this is adding to the time taken for preparing reports. Hence, as per the recommendation of the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee, all district headquarters has been instructed to take the following steps to making the testing more effective:
- Examination of all infected persons (including ILI & SARI).
- All primary contacts (compulsory examination of all members of the infected household).
- Conduct tests on all infected contacts at least two weeks.
- Pregnant lady should undergo a Covid test two weeks before the due date.
- Conducting random testing on anyone is suspended till the next order.
- In case of death during surgery, a specimen test should be conducted on the person.
- No need to conduct test on tenth day for person who is discharged from hospital or from home isolation.
- International and other state arrivals will undergo tests as per the norms issued by the government.
