Coronavirus Positive in Pregnancy – What Steps To Take

There are 3 scenarios that need to be taken into account as far as pregnant women are concerned. Response of the lady should depend upon the scenario facing her and her family.

– First case is one in which the pregnant lady is suspected to be positive, awaiting results of investigations.

– Second case is – the pregnant woman is confirmed positive for Covid-19, the infection caused by the Novel Coronavirus.

– third case is – Someone in close proximity, to whom the pregnant woman has been exposed, is positive. She herself is asymptomatic.

Given the prevailing Coronavirus pandemic situation, it is vitally important that each and every case of COVID-19 (infection caused by Coronavirus), whether suspected or confirmed –

1. Cooperates in getting herself isolated and appropriately treated. The isolation and treatment may be done either at a Govt. hospital or at a Govt. authorised private institution. 
2. Assists in exhaustive contacts tracing at the earliest. This is critical to snap the chain of transmission. 
3. Enables the Private Institution where tested, to Notify the Government, as this is mandatory by law.  Specific Guidelines have been issued by the Govt of India governing the notification of COVID-19 positive cases by Private organisations, to the concerned district surveillance unit. 
4. Those with a travel history of COVID-19 affected areas also need to assist their health provider submit the self-declaration forms related to their travel history. 
5. If Pregnant women with such a travel history in the last 14 days are showing symptoms of COVID-19, they are required to be isolated in a hospital and get tested for COVID-19 as per protocol. They will be required to ensure that the institution forwards Information of their cases to the State helpline number,  the national helpline 1075 and  an Email to be sent to ncov2019@gov.in. 

Quarantine for pregnant women exposed to a COVID-19 patient

Quarantine may be at home or in a facility designated by the state which includes hotels, hostels, guesthouses or hospitals. This has been shown to be an effective measure against the spread of infection. On the other hand, Isolation refers to the separation and restriction of movements of ill persons who have a contagious disease in order to prevent its transmission to others. It typically occurs in a hospital setting or a special facility. At present, in India, all symptomatic patients who have a positive test for COVID19 are being isolated. 

The criteria for quarantine are the same for pregnant women and the general population. These criteria, duration and measures may be changed with the passage of time as per advice of the Government of India. 

A contact in the context of COVID-19 is: 

– A person living in the same household as a COVID-19 case 

– A person having had direct physical contact with a COVID-19 case or his/her infectious secretions without recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) or with a possible breach of PPE 

– A person who was in a closed environment or had face to face contact with a COVID-19 case at a distance of less than 1 meter, including during air travel. 

The term Quarantine is employed in the case of healthy persons who are required to be separated and whose movement  needs to be restricted.  It is done for those who are known to be directly or indirectly exposed, or suspected to be exposed to a disease, in this case Covid-19, to ascertain if they will become ill. 

These are women who are asymptomatic despite exposure to Covid-19, but may develop the disease subsequently up to 11 days of exposure. Quarantine could be at home or at a state designated facility, which could be a hotel, hostel, guesthouse or hospital. 

This method has been shown to be an efficient measure against the spread of infection. 

What Is The Difference Between Quarantining And Isolation

As opposed to Quarantine at home or designated facility, Isolation refers to the separation and restriction of movements of ill persons who have a contagion, so as to stop its transmission to others. 

Isolation typically requires a hospital setting or a specially designated facility. 

Presently in India, all symptomatic patients who have a positive test for COVID19 are being isolated.

The criteria for quarantine are the same for both pregnant women as well as normal women. These criteria, duration and measures could also be changed with the passage of time, as per advice of the govt of India. 

A contact within the context of COVID-19 is:

– A person living within the same household as a COVID-19 case

– A person having had direct physical contact with a COVID-19 case or his/her infectious secretions without recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) or with a possible breach of PPE

– A person who was in a closed environment or had face to face contact with a COVID-19 case at a distance of under 1 meter, including during air travel.

Instructions for home quarantine of Contacts

The home quarantined person should:

· Set herself up in a properly ventilated single-room, which should ideally have an attached toilet or access to a separate toilet.

· If another family member must stay within the same room, it’s advisable to arrange to maintain a distance of a minimum of 1 meter between the two.

· must avoid contact within the household with – elderly people, pregnant women, children and persons with co-morbidities.

· Restrict his/her movement within the house.

Under no circumstances attend any social/religious gathering e.g. wedding, condolences, etc. 

General health measures to be followed in quarantine include hand washing, avoiding sharing fomites, wearing a surgical mask and changing it every 6 to eight hours with correct disposal in 1% hypochlorite solution. 

If symptoms appear during quarantine, the pregnant woman should contact a clinic by telephone and follow the given advice. 

relations of the pregnant woman quarantined reception should keep a distance from her in the least times and avoid direct contact together with her and her fomites. Disposable gloves should be utilized in case soiled linen has got to be handled. Visitors shouldn’t be allowed. Clothes should be washed separately. The duration of home quarantine is 14 days from the time of exposure to a conrmed case or earlier if a test is performed on a suspect case and it’s negative.