Delhi Govt Decides Not To Conduct COVID-19 Test of Deceased

Delhi govt highlights procedure to be followed after a patient dies at hospital or COVID care facility or test centre, at home or if it’s an unclaimed body.

New Delhi| On Sunday, the Delhi government directed that no sample would be drawn for COVID-19 test from a dead person. However, it would be disposed as COVID-19 case if doctors are satisfied by clinical examination that the virus infection caused the death, as per a new SOP issued for the disposal of bodies.

The Health Department, in its order, suspended an earlier order on the ‘Disposal of Bodies of Covid-19 affected persons’ announced on April 3.

The order signed by Padmini Singla, Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), said: “No sample for Covid-19 test will be taken from the dead body. However, if doctors are satisfied with the clinical examination that the cause of death may be Covid-19 infection, the body may be released as suspect Covid-19 infected body.”

The step is anticipated to further save testing kits.

Last week, the Union ministry of health changed the nation’s discharge policy for COVID-19 patients to allow those with mild to moderate symptoms to go back home without 2 negative tests, which were earlier required for discharge.

So far, about 150 fatalities due to COVID-19 have been reported in the National Captial.

Delhi recorded 10,554 COVID-19 cases with the sharpest hike this week.

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Infections are now doubling every 13.8 days if data of the past seven days are considered.

Across the country, at least 36,824 patients have cured so far the recovery rate stood at 33%.

Currently, there are 56,316 active COVID-19 patients in the country.

India is the 11th most-affected nation in terms of the total number of confirmed cases, overtaking China.