Representational Image: Mathrubhumi
Kollam: Covid tests are not mandatory for admissions to government or private hospitals in the state including medical colleges. Only those who are symptomatic to Covid 19 have to carry out tests. The Covid tests are not mandatory for even patients admitted to the hospitals for a surgery. The health department conveyed this orally to the district-level authorities.
A series of directions were also issued by the primary health centres to Govt medical colleges to ensure treatment for Covid patients who reach hospitals with other diseases. Parallel health care services have to be assured for the Covid and non-Covid patients. No patients shall be referred to other hospitals after testing positive for Covid. The hospitals should carry out delivery of pregnant women even if they test Covid positive. But the hospital can refer the Covid positive pregnant woman to other hospitals if the former has only one theatre. However, the women who arrive at a hospital with labour pain shall not be sent back under any circumstances.
The health department has issued guidelines explaining that bystanders of patients are not required to undertake Covid tests. But the health department has received complaints that some of the private hospitals are compelling them to administer Covid test.
Covid tests have come down drastically in the state as it was being done only under indispensable circumstances. People moving abroad and those who show symptoms of severe fever are only undertaking Covid tests.
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