IMPIMP

Government Hospitals to conduct antigen tests on dead bodies

by pranjalipargaonkar

Pune : Any dead body that will be brought to the government hospital, the rapid antigen test will be conducted to confirm COVID-19. A government has issued a circular, has said tests (used for detecting tuberculosis) like TrueNat/CBNAAT — also being used for Covid testing — can be used to facilitate quick handover of the bodies.

Mortuaries has passed its capacity to almost full. Government hospital such as Sassoon, on an average of the daily 40-50 deaths reported, at least 15 are brought dead. The daily death reported at the government medical college and hospital at Nagpur are 30-35, among which 5 to 10 are brought dead.

The rapid spread of COVID-19 infection has let government to conduct an antigen test to confirm Covid-19. Since the results are given within an hour or so, it can help in quicker disposal of bodies, highly placed state health officials said.

Maharashtra has reported over 10 lakh cases and more than 29,114 deaths till Monday. Mumbai, Pune and Thane have reported the highest number of deaths at 8,109, 4,754 and 4,134 respectively. Districts now reporting over 1,000 deaths include Jalgaon, Nashik and Nagpur.

The postmortem will not be requires for deaths in a hospital and under medical care for coronavirus infection as the it was already under treatment of the doctors.

The guidelines had also noted that bodies of suspected COVID-19 patients brought to the hospital may be labelled as medico legal cases by the doctor in emergency and sent to the mortuary and the police informed who may necessitate a medico legal autopsy for clarity in cause and manner of death (whether natural/unnatural).

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