COVID-19 Test Not Mandatory For All Pregnant Women Before Delivery: Delhi Govt Tells Delhi HC

The information was given before the Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan in a plea seeking priority testing, expeditious processing and declaration of results of pregnant women for COVID-19.

The Directorate of Family Welfare, Delhi Government, has also submitted that only those pregnant women are required to undergo COVID testing who are either confirmed COVID-19 contacts or are under investigation for being a suspect.

The report further states that with regard to admission in hospitals for in-patient care including surgery, pregnant women coming for delivery etc, prior COVID-19 test is not mandatory and in emergency situations the treatment must not be denied for want of COVID19 test results.

It is also submitted that with the availability of Rapid Antigen Detection testing, pregnant women falling in any of the categories mentioned above can be tested in the health facility itself with the report being available within 30 minutes at the point of care.

The report says:

'ln certain cases with a high index of suspicion, if the Rapid Antigen Detection test comes out to be negative, the healthcare provider may go for RT PCR in which case the report will be available within 24 hours or latest by 48 hours.'

In light of these cases, the court disposed of the petition by expressing satisfaction towards the steps taken by the Delhi Government in addressing the issues raised in the petition.

The court also said that it sees no reason to further monitor the present petition.

The Petitioner in this case was represented by Vaibhav Agnihotri and Mohit Seth.

Case Title: Nikhil Singhvi v. GNCTD