The Chhattisgarh government does not want minor children of Covid-19 positive women to come to hospitals designated to treat coronavirus.
Health Department Secretary Niharika Barik Singh has issued a directive to this effect to all District Collectors.
The officials have been told that children of such mothers should also undergo Reverse Transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.
According to reports, besides fighting the pandemic, the hospital paramedical staff have to take care of the children of women patients too, exposing the minors to the disease.
The Secretary's letter states that from various districts, corona positive women having minor children are being sent to Covid Hospitals. This sharply increases the possibility of exposure for the young ones.
The Collectors were told to take samples of the positive women’s children and conduct RT-PCR test. Only children who test positive can accompany their mothers to the hospital. If a child’s test is negative, they should not be sent to the hospital.
The letter says that if family members are reluctant to take care of the children, they should be sent to the ‘Sakhi Centre’ or ‘Creche’ in the districts which will follow the guidelines for quarantine.