No COVID-19 Test Of Deceased Patients, Odisha Govt Tells Hospitals

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has directed all the state-run and private hospitals to not conduct the COVID-19 test of the deceased patients.

In a letter, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Pradipta Mahapatra has told the hospital authorities to release the body of the patients to prevent harassment to the bereaved family.

Apart from this, Mahapatra has told the hospital authorities to submit death reports of the patients along with the copy of the bed head tickets, investigation reports and COVID test status to the Director, Health Services, Odisha at dhsodisha@gmail.com. This should be done within 48 hours of death for the purpose of state-level death audit to determine the cause of death.

The hospitals are also directed to record all the pre-existing diseases with signs and symptoms at the time of admission along with the related investigation reports. They have to also submit the report to the state level committee along with the name and contact number of the treating physician.