updates on covid 19 from various articles and perinatal covid guidelines............................

1. NOVEL CORONA VIRUS-2019-
(nCoV2019)-MERS CoV2 &
Perinatal Covid
Presenter:Dr.sri harsha
Moderator:Dr.sree krishna

2. INDEX
INTRODUCTION
VIROLOGY
EPIDEMOLOGY
PERIOD OF INFECTIVITY
IMMUNITY
CLINICAL FEATURES
COURSE AND COMPLICATIONS
LABORATORY AND IMAGING FINDINGS
EVALUATION AND DIAGNOSIS
MANAGEMENT
PREVENTION

3. INTRODUCTION
Coronaviruses are important human and animal pathogens.
At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified as the
cause of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in the
Hubei Province of China.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is designated severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);
previously, it was referred to as 2019-nCoV.

4. VIROLOGY
Full-genome sequencing and phylogenic analysis indicated that the coronavirus that causes
COVID-19 is a betacoronavirus in the same subgenus as the severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS) virus but in a different clade.
The structure of the receptor-binding gene region is very similar to that of the SARS coronavirus,
and the virus has been shown to use the same receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
(ACE2), for cell entry.
whether COVID-19 virus is transmitted directly from bats or through some other mechanism (like
through an intermediate host) is unknown.
In a phylogenetic analysis of 103 strains of SARS-CoV-2 from China, two different types of
SARS-CoV-2 were identified, designated type L (accounting for 70 percent of the strains) and
type S (accounting for 30 percent). The L type predominated during the early days of the
epidemic in China, but accounted for a lower proportion of strains outside of Wuhan than in
Wuhan. The clinical implications of these findings are uncertain.

6. EPIDEMOLOGY
Globally, more than 2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported.
Route of transmission-Understanding of the transmission risk is incomplete.
Epidemiologic investigation in Wuhan at the beginning of the outbreak identified an initial
association with a seafood market that sold live animals, where most patients had worked
or visited and which was subsequently closed for disinfection.
However, as the outbreak progressed, person-to-person spread became the main mode
of transmission.
Person-to-person spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-
CoV-2) is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets, resembling the spread of
influenza.

7. EPIDEMOLOGY
With droplet transmission, virus released in the respiratory secretions
when a person with infection coughs, sneezes, or talks can infect another
person if it makes direct contact with the mucous membranes; infection
can also occur if a person touches an infected surface and then touches
his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets typically do not travel more than
six feet (about two meters) and do not linger in the air.
study in which SARS-CoV-2 remained viable in experimentally generated
aerosols for at least three hours, the relevance of this to the epidemiology
of COVID-19 and its clinical implications are unclear.

8. Period of infectivity-The interval during which an individual with
COVID-19 is infectious is uncertain. It appears that SARS-CoV-2
can be transmitted prior to the development of symptoms and
throughout the course of illness.
Viral RNA levels from upper respiratory specimens appear to be
higher soon after symptom onset compared with later in the illness,
a study of nine patients with mild COVID-19, infectious virus was
isolated from naso/oropharyngeal and sputum specimens during the
first week of illness, but not after this interval, despite continued high
viral RNA levels at these sites.
These findings raise the possibility that transmission might be more
likely in the earlier stage of infection, but additional data are needed
to confirm this hypothesis.

10. The duration of viral shedding is also variable; there appears to
be a wide range, which may depend on severity of illness.
study of 21 patients with mild illness (no hypoxia), 90 percent
had repeated negative viral RNA tests on nasopharyngeal
swabs by 10 days after the onset of symptoms; tests were
positive for longer in patients with more severe illness.
Another study of 137 patients who survived COVID-19, the
median duration of viral RNA shedding from oropharyngeal
specimens was 20 days (range of 8 to 37 days).

11. In the study of nine patients with mild COVID-19 described above,
infectious virus was not detected from respiratory specimens when the
viral RNA level was <106 copies/mL.
A joint WHO-China report, the rate of secondary COVID-19 ranged
from 1 to 5 percent among tens of thousands of close contacts of
confirmed patients in China.
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from asymptomatic individuals (or
individuals within the incubation period) has also been described.
An analysis of 157 locally acquired COVID-19 cases in Singapore,
transmission during the incubation period was estimated to account for
6.4 percent; in such cases, the exposures occurred one to three days
prior to symptom development

12. Immunity-Antibodies to the virus are induced in those who have
become infected.
Preliminary evidence suggests that some of these antibodies are
protective, but this remains to be definitively established.
Moreover, it is unknown whether all infected patients mount a
protective immune response and how long any protective effect
will last.
A case series evaluating convalescent plasma for treatment of
COVID-19 identified neutralizing activity in plasma of recovered
patients that appeared to be transferred to recipients following
plasma infusion.

13. Immunity-Another study of 23 patients who recovered from
COVID-19, antibodies to the receptor-binding domain of the
spike protein and the nucleocapsid protein were detected by
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in most patients
by 14 days following the onset of symptoms; ELISA antibody
titers correlated with neutralizing activity.
The FDA has approved a test that qualitatively identifies
immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2
in serum or plasma.

15. PATHOGENESIS

17. CLINICAL FEATURESIncubation period —The incubation period for COVID-19 is thought to be
within 14 days following exposure,with most cases occurring
approximately four to five days after exposure.
In a study of 1099 patients with confirmed symptomatic COVID-19, the
median incubation period was four days (interquartile range two to seven
days).
Using data from 181 publicly reported, confirmed cases in China with
identifiable exposure, one modeling study estimated that symptoms would
develop in 2.5 percent of infected individuals within 2.2 days and in 97.5
percent of infected individuals within 11.5 days. The median incubation
period in this study was 5.1 days.

18. Spectrum of illness severity — The spectrum of symptomatic infection
ranges from mild to critical; most infections are not severe [38,40-45].
Specifically, in a report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and
Prevention that included approximately 44,500 confirmed infections with an
estimation of disease severity [46]:
● Mild(no or mild pneumonia)was reported in 81percent.
●Severe disease(eg,with. dyspnea,hypoxia,or>50percent lung involvement
on imaging within 24 to 48hours) was reported in 14 percent.
● Critical disease(eg,with respiratory failure,shock,or multi or end
dysfunction)was reported in 5 percent.
● The overall case fatality rate was 2.3 percent;no deaths were reported
among non critical cases.

19. Risk factors for severe illness — Severe illness can occur in otherwise healthy individuals of
any age, but it predominantly occurs in adults with advanced age or underlying medical co
morbidities.
Comorbidities that have been associated with severe illness and mortality include
● Cardio vascular disease
● Diabetes mellitus
● Hypertension
● Chronic lung disease
● Cancer
● Chronic kidney disease.

21. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) also includes immunocompromising conditions, severe
obesity (body mass index ≥40), and liver disease as potential
risk factors for severe illness, although specific data regarding
risks associated with these conditions are limited.
In a subset of 355 patients who died with COVID-19 in Italy, the
mean number of pre-existing comorbidities was 2.7, and only 3
patients had no underlying condition.
Males have comprised a disproportionately high number of
deaths in cohorts from China and Italy.

22. Particular laboratory features have also been associated with worse outcomes. These
include
● Lymphopenia
● Elevated liver enzymes
● Elevated lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)
● Elevated inflammatory markers(eg,C-reactiveprotein[CRP],ferritin)
● Elevated D-dimer(>1mcg/mL)
● Elevated prothrombin time(PT)
● Elevated troponin
● Elevated creatine phosphokinase(CPK)
● Acute kidney injury.

23. As an example, in one study, progressive decline in the
lymphocyte count and rise in the D-dimer over time were
observed in non survivors compared with more stable levels in
survivors.
Patients with severe disease have also been reported to have
higher viral RNA levels in respiratory specimens than those with
milder disease , although this association was not observed in a
different study that measured viral RNA in salivary specimens.

24. Impact of age — Individuals of any age can acquire severe
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
infection, although adults of middle age and older are most
commonly affected, and older adults are more likely to have
severe disease.
In several cohorts of hospitalized patients with confirmed
COVID-19, the median age ranged from 49 to 56 years.
Symptomatic infection in children appears to be relatively
uncommon; when it occurs, it is usually mild, although severe
cases have been reported.

25. Asymptomatic infections —Asymptomatic infections have also been
described, but their frequency is unknown.
In a COVID-19 outbreak on a cruise ship where nearly all passengers and staff
were screened for SARS- CoV-2, approximately 17 percent of the population
on board tested positive as of February 20; about half of the 619 confirmed
COVID-19 cases were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis .
A modeling study estimated that 18 percent were true asymptomatic cases (ie,
did not go on to develop symptoms), although this was based on a number of
assumptions, including the incubation period.
Similarly, in a smaller COVID-19 outbreak within a skilled nursing facility, 13 of
the of the 23 residents who had a positive screening test were asymptomatic at
the time of diagnosis, but 10 of them ultimately developed symptoms over the
next seven days.

27. Even patients with asymptomatic infection may have objective
clinical abnormalities .
As an example, in a study of 24 patients with asymptomatic
infection who all underwent chest computed tomography (CT), 50
percent had typical ground-glass opacities or patchy shadowing,
and another 20 percent had atypical imaging abnormalities .
Five patients developed low-grade fever, with or without other
typical symptoms, a few days after diagnosis.
In another study of 55 patients with asymptomatic infection
identified through contact tracing, 67 percent had CT evidence of
pneumonia on admission; only two patients developed hypoxia,
and all recovered.

28. CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
Initial presentation — Pneumonia appears to be the most frequent serious manifestation of infection,
characterized primarily by fever, cough, dyspnea, and bilateral infiltrates on chest imaging . There are no
specific clinical features that can yet reliably distinguish COVID-19 from other viral respiratory infections.
In a study describing 138 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in Wuhan, the most common clinical features
at the onset of illness were :
● Fever in 99 percent
● Fatigue in 70 percent
● Dry cough in 59 percent
● Anorexia in 40 percent
● Myalgias in 35 percent
● Dyspnea in 31 percent
● Sputum production in 27 percent

30. However, fever might not be a universal finding.
In one study, fever was reported in almost all patients, but
approximately 20 percent had a very low grade fever
<100.4°F/38°C .
In another study of 1099 patients from Wuhan and other areas
in China, fever (defined as an axillary temperature over
99.5°F/37.5°C) was present in only 44 percent on admission
but was ultimately noted in 89 percent during the
hospitalization.

31. Although not highlighted in the initial cohort studies from China, smell
and taste disorders (eg, anosmia and dysgeusia) have also been
reported as common symptoms in patients with COVID-19 .
In a survey of 59 patients with COVID-19 in Italy, 34 percent self-
reported either a smell or taste aberration and 19 percent reported
both .
Whether this is a distinguishing feature of COVID-19 is uncertain.
Other, less common symptoms have included headache, sore throat,
and rhinorrhea.
In addition to respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms (eg,
nausea and diarrhea) have also been reported; and in some patients,
they may be the presenting complaint

32. Course and complications — As above, symptomatic
infection can range from mild to critical.
Some patients with initially mild symptoms may progress over
the course of a week.
In one study of 138 patients hospitalized in Wuhan for
pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2, dyspnea developed after a
median of five days since the onset of symptoms, and hospital
admission occurred after a median of seven days of symptoms .
In another study, the median time to dyspnea was eight days .

33. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major
complication in patients with severe disease and can manifest
shortly after the onset of dyspnea.
In the study of 138 patients described above, ARDS developed
in 20 percent a median of eight days after the onset of
symptoms; mechanical ventilation was implemented in 12.3
percent .
In another study of 201 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in
Wuhan, 41 percent developed ARDS; age greater than 65
years, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were each
associated with ARDS.

34. Other complications have included arrhythmias, acute cardiac injury, and
shock.
In one study, these were reported in 17, 7, and 9 percent, respectively .
In a series of 21 severely ill patients admitted to the ICU in the United
States, one-third developed cardiomyopathy.
Some patients with severe COVID-19 have laboratory evidence of an
exuberant inflammatory response, similar to cytokine release syndrome,
with persistent fevers, elevated inflammatory markers (eg, D-dimer,
ferritin), and elevated proinflammatory cytokines; these laboratory
abnormalities have been associated with critical and fatal illnesses.
According to the WHO, recovery time appears to be around two weeks
for mild infections and three to six weeks for severe disease

37. Laboratory findings — In patients with COVID-19, the white
blood cell count can vary. Leukopenia, leukocytosis, and
lymphopenia have been reported, although lymphopenia
appears most common.
Elevated lactate dehydrogenase and ferritin levels are common,
and elevated aminotransferase levels have also been
described.
On admission, many patients with pneumonia have normal
serum procalcitonin levels; however, in those requiring ICU
care, they are more likely to be elevated.
High D-dimer levels and more severe lymphopenia have been
associated with mortality.

38. Early Clinical and CT Manifestations of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pneumonia
Rui Han, Lu Huang, Hong Jiang, Jin Dong, Hongfen Peng, and Dongyou Zhang
American Journal of Roentgenology 0 0:0, 1-6

39. Imaging findings —Chest radiographs may be normal in early
or mild disease.
In a retrospective study of 64 patients in Hong Kong with
documented COVID-19, 20 percent did not have any
abnormalities on chest radiograph at any point during the
illness.
Common abnormal radiograph findings were consolidation and
ground glass opacities, with bilateral, peripheral, and lower lung
zone distributions; lung involvement increased over the course
of illness, with a peak in severity at 10 to 12 days after symptom
onset.

40. Chest CT in patients with COVID-19 most commonly
demonstrates patchy distribution and next common is ground-
glass opacification with or without consolidative abnormalities,
consistent with viral pneumonia .
Case series have suggested that chest CT abnormalities are
more likely to be bilateral, have a peripheral distribution, and
involve the lower lobes. Less common findings include pleural
thickening, pleural effusion, and lymphadenopathy.

43. In a study of 1014 patients in Wuhan who underwent both
reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
testing and chest CT for evaluation of COVID-19, a "positive"
chest CT for COVID-19 (as determined by a consensus of two
radiologists) had a sensitivity of 97 percent, using the PCR
tests as a reference; however, specificity was only 25 percent.
Another study comparing chest CTs from 219 patients with
COVID-19 in China and 205 patients with other causes of viral
pneumonia in the United States, COVID-19 cases were more
likely to have a peripheral distribution.

44. EVALUATION AND DIAGNOSIS
Clinical suspicion and criteria for testing — The possibility of COVID-19 should be considered
primarily in patients with new onset fever and/or respiratory tract symptoms (eg, cough,
dyspnea).
It should also be considered in patients with severe lower respiratory tract illness without any
clear cause. Although these syndromes can occur with other viral respiratory illnesses, the
likelihood of COVID-19 is increased if the patient:
Resides in or has traveled within the prior14days to a location where there is community
transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; ie, large
numbers of cases that cannot be linked to specific transmission chains); or
● Has had close contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the prior
14days,including through work in health care settings. Close contact includes being within
approximately six feet (about two meters) of a patient for a prolonged period of time while not
wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) or having direct contact with infectious secretions
while not wearing PPE.

45. Laboratory testing —In the United States, the CDC recommends
collection of a nasopharyngeal swab specimen to test for SARS-
CoV-2.
An oropharyngeal swab can be collected but is not essential; if
collected, it should be placed in the same container as the
nasopharyngeal specimen.
Oropharyngeal, nasal mid-turbinate, or nasal swabs are acceptable
alternatives if nasopharyngeal swabs are unavailable.
Expectorated sputum should be collected from patients with
productive cough; induction of sputum is not recommended.
A lower respiratory tract aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage should
be collected from patients who are intubated.

46. A positive test for SARS-CoV-2 generally confirms the diagnosis
of COVID-19, although false-positive tests are possible.
False-negative tests from upper respiratory specimens have
been documented.
If initial testing is negative but the suspicion for COVID-19
remains and determining the presence of infection is important
for management or infection control, we suggest repeating the
test.
In such cases, the WHO also recommends testing lower
respiratory tract specimens, if possible [91]. Infection control
precautions for COVID-19 should continue while repeat
evaluation is being performed.

48. Negative RT- PCR tests on oropharyngeal swabs despite CT findings
suggestive of viral pneumonia have been reported in some patients who
ultimately tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Lower respiratory tract specimens may have higher viral loads and be more
likely to yield positive tests than upper respiratory tract specimens.
In a study of 205 patients with COVID-19 who were sampled at various
sites, the highest rates of positive viral RNA tests were reported from
bronchoalveolar lavage (95 percent, 14 of 15 specimens) and sputum (72
percent, 72 of 104 specimens), compared with oropharyngeal swab (32
percent, 126 of 398 specimens) [16].
Data from this study suggested that viral RNA levels are higher and more
frequently detected in nasal compared with oral specimens, although only
eight nasal swabs were tested.

50. Serologic tests, as soon as generally available and adequately
evaluated, should be able to identify patients who have either current
or previous infection but a negative PCR test .
In one study that included 58 patients with clinical, radiographic, and
epidemiologic features suspicious for COVID-19 but with
negativeSARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, an IgM enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was positive in 93 percent.
For safety reasons, specimens from a patient with suspected or
documented COVID-19 should not be submitted for viral culture.
The importance of testing for other pathogens was highlighted in a
report of 210 symptomatic patients with suspected COVID-19; 30
tested positive for another respiratory viral pathogen, and 11 tested
positive for SARS-CoV-2.

51. MANAGEMENT
Site of care:
Home care — Home management is appropriate for patients with non-severe infection (eg, fever,
cough, and/or myalgias without dyspnea) or asymptomatic infection who can be adequately isolated in
the outpatient setting.
Management of such patients should focus on prevention of transmission to others and monitoring for
clinical deterioration, which should prompt hospitalization.
Outpatient management is mainly supportive with hydration, antipyretics, and analgesics, if necessary.
Outpatients with COVID-19 should stay at home and try to separate themselves from other people and
animals in the household.
They should wear a face cover when in the same room (or vehicle) as other people and when
presenting to health care settings. Disinfection of frequently touched surfaces is also important.

52. The optimal duration of home isolation is uncertain. The United States
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued
recommendations on discontinuation of home isolation, which include
both test- based and non-test-based strategies:
When a test-based strategy isused,patients may discontinue home
isolation when there is:
• Resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
AND
• Improvement in respiratory symptoms (eg, cough, shortness of
breath) AND
Negative results of molecular assay for COVID-19 from at least two
consecutive nasopharyngeal swab specimens collected ≥24 hours
apart (total of two negative specimens).

53. When a non-test-based strategy is used,patients may discontinue home isolation when the following
criteria are met:
• At least seven days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND
• At least three days (72 hours) have passed since recovery of symptoms (defined as resolution of
fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms [eg,
cough, shortness of breath].
• At least three days (72 hours) have passed since recovery of symptoms (defined as resolution of
fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms [eg,
cough, shortness of breath])
In some cases, patients may have had laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, but they did not have any
symptoms when they were tested.
In such patients, home isolation may be discontinued when at least seven days have passed since the
date of their first positive COVID-19 test so long as there was no evidence of subsequent illness.
However, they should continue to limit contact with other individuals and wear a face cover when
around others for another three days after isolation is discontinued.

54. Hospital care —Some patients with suspected or documented COVID-19 have
severe disease that warrants hospital care.
Patients with severe disease often need oxygenation support. High-flow oxygen
and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation have been used, but the safety of
these measures is uncertain.
Limited role of glucocorticoids — The WHO and CDC recommend
glucocorticoids not be used in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia unless there
are other indications (eg, exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
.
Glucocorticoids have been associated with an increased risk for mortality in
patients with influenza and delayed viral clearance in patients with Middle East
respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.
Although they were widely used in management of severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS), there was no good evidence for benefit.

55. Uncertainty about NSAID use — Some clinicians have suggested the use of non-
steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) early in the course of disease may have a
negative impact on disease outcome.
These concerns are based on anecdotal reports of a few young patients who received
NSAIDs early in the course of infection and experienced severe disease.
However, there have been no clinical or population- based data that directly address the
risk of NSAIDs.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the WHO do not recommend that NSAIDs
be avoided when clinically indicated.
Given the uncertainty, we suggest acetaminophen as the preferred antipyretic agent, if
possible, and if NSAIDs are needed, the lowest effective dose should be used.
However, we do not suggest that NSAIDs be stopped in patients who are on them
chronically for other conditions, unless there are other reasons to stop them (eg, renal
injury, gastrointestinal bleeding).

56. Investigational approaches — A number of investigational
approaches are being explored for antiviral treatment of COVID-
19, and enrollment in clinical trials should be discussed with
patients or their proxies.
Certain investigational agents have been described in
observational series or are being used anecdotally based on in
vitro or extrapolated evidence.
It is important to acknowledge that there are no controlled data
supporting the use of any of these agents, and their efficacy for
COVID-19 is unknown.

57. Remdesivir–Several randomized trials are underway to
evaluate the efficacy of remdesivir for moderate or severe
COVID-19.
Remdesivir is a novel nucleotide analogue that has activity
against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
(SARS-CoV-2) in vitro and related coronaviruses (including
SARS and MERS-CoV) both in vitro and in animal studies .
Remdesivir is an intravenous agent; reported side effects
include nausea, vomiting, and transaminase elevations.
systematic evaluation of the clinical impact of remdesivir on
COVID-19 has not yet been published.

58. Chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine–Both chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine
have been reported to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, although hydroxychloroquine
appears to have more potent antiviral activity.
Clinical data evaluating hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine are limited, and their
efficacy against SARS- CoV-2 is unknown.
Nevertheless, given the lack of clearly effective interventions and the in vitro
antiviral activity, some clinicians think it is reasonable to use hydroxychloroquine
in hospitalized patients with severe disease or risk for severe disease who are not
eligible for clinical trials.
Clinical data evaluating hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine are limited, and their
efficacy against SARS- CoV-2 is unknown.
Nevertheless, given the lack of clearly effective interventions and the in vitro
antiviral activity, some clinicians think it is reasonable to use hydroxychloroquine
in hospitalized patients with severe disease or risk for severe disease who are not
eligible for clinical trials.

59. Optimal dosing is uncertain; the FDA suggests hydroxychloroquine 800 mg on day 1
then
400 mg daily and chloroquine 1 g on day 1
then 500 mg daily, each for four to seven days total depending on clinical response .
Other hydroxychloroquine regimens used include 400 mg twice daily on day 1
then daily for five days,
400 mg twice daily on day 1
then 200 mg twice daily for four days, and 600 mg twice daily on day 1 then 400 mg
daily for four days.

60. Use of chloroquine is included in treatment guidelines from China's
National Health Commission and was reportedly associated with
reduced progression of disease and decreased duration of symptoms .
However, primary data supporting these claims have not been
published.
A randomized trial of patients with mild COVID-19 pneumonia and no
hypoxia reported that adding hydroxychloroquine to standard of care
resulted in faster time to improvement in fever, cough, and chest
imaging findings and possibly a lower likelihood of progression to
severe disease, but the trial has not been published.
Published clinical data on either of these agents are limited.

62. In an open-label study of 36 patients with COVID-19, use of
hydroxychloroquine (200 mg three times per day for 10 days) was
associated with a higher rate of undetectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA on
nasopharyngeal specimens at day 6 compared with no specific
treatment.
In a study, the use of azithromycin in combination with
hydroxychloroquine appeared to be associated with a more rapid
decline in viral RNA; however there are methodologic concerns
about the control groups for the study, the biologic basis for using
azithromycin in this setting is unclear, and another small
observational study in patients with more severe illness did not
suggest rapid viral RNA clearance with the combination.

63. IL-6pathwayinhibitors–Clinical features consistent with a cytokine
release syndrome with elevated interleukin (IL)-6 levels have been
described in patients with severe COVID-19.
Anecdotal reports have described good outcomes with the IL-6
receptor inhibitor tocilizumab, but there are no published clinical
data supporting its use.
Treatment guidelines from China's National Health Commission
include tocilizumab for patients with severe COVID-19 and elevated
IL-6 levels. This agent, as well as sarilumab and siltuximab, which
also target the IL-6 pathway, are being evaluated in clinical trials.

64. Convalescent plasma–
In the United States,the Food and Drug Administration is
accepting emergency investigational new drug applications for
use of convalescent plasma for patients with severe or life-
threatening COVID-19 .
A case series described administration of plasma from donors
who had completely recovered from COVID-19 to five patients
with severe COVID-19 on mechanical ventilation and persistently
high viral titers despite investigational antiviral treatment.
The patients had decreased nasopharyngeal viral load,
decreased disease severity score, and improved oxygenation by
12 days after transfusion,but these findings do not establish a
causal effect.

65. Favipiravir–
Favipiravir is an RNApolymerase inhibitor that is available in some Asian countries for
treatment of influenza and is being evaluated in clinical trials for treatment of COVID-
19. Published clinical data are pending.
● Lopinavir-ritonavir–
Lopinavir-ritonavir appears to have little to no role in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2
infection.
This combined protease inhibitor, which has primarily been used for HIV infection, has
in vitro activity against the SARS-CoV and appears to have some activity against
MERS-CoV in animal studies.
However, there was no difference in time to clinical improvement or mortality at 28
days in a randomized trial of 199 patients with severe COVID-19 given lopinavir-
ritonavir (400/100 mg) twice daily for 14 days in addition to standard care versus
those who received standard of care alone.

66. PREVENTION
Infection control for suspected or confirmed cases — Infection control to limit transmission is an
essential component of care in patients with suspected or documented COVID-19.
Individuals with suspected infection in the community should be advised to wear a face cover to contain
their respiratory secretions prior to seeking medical attention.
In the health care setting, the World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC recommendations for infection
control for suspected or confirmed infections differ slightly:
The WHO recommends standard,contact,and droplet precautions (ie,gown,gloves,and medical mask),
with eye or face protection. The addition of airborne precautions (ie, respirator) is warranted.
The CDC recommends that patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 be placed in a single
occupancy room with a closed door and dedicated bathroom.
An airborne infection isolation room (ie, a single-patient negative pressure room) should be reserved for
patients undergoing aerosol- generating procedures.

68. Any personnel entering the room of a patient with suspected or confirmed
COVID-19 should wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE):
gown, gloves, eye protection, and a respirator (eg, an N95 respirator).
If supply of respirators is limited, the CDC acknowledges that medical masks are
an acceptable alternative (in addition to contact precautions and eye protection),
but respirators should be worn during aerosol-generating procedures.
Aerosol-generating procedures include tracheal intubation and extubation,
noninvasive ventilation, manual ventilation before intubation, bronchoscopy,
administration of high-flow oxygen or nebulized medications, tracheotomy,
cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and upper endoscopy.
The CDC does not consider nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal specimen
collection an aerosol-generating procedure that warrants an airborne isolation
room, but it should be performed in a single-occupancy room with the door
closed, and any personnel in the room should wear a respirator.

71. Health care workers should pay special attention to the appropriate
sequence of putting on and taking off PPE by 2 methods to avoid
contamination.
There has also been interest in decontamination of PPE for reuse, in
particular for N95 respirators. The CDC has highlighted three methods for
decontamination of respirators when supplies are critically low (crisis
standards).
Ultravioletlight–Decontamination with ultraviolet(UV)light was evaluated
in the context of the H1N1 influenza pandemic; in experimental models, UV
irradiation was observed to reduce H1N1 influenza viability on N95
respirator surfaces at doses below the threshold observed to impair the
integrity of the respirator.
Coronaviruses can also be inactivated by UV irradiation, but comparable
studies have not been performed with SARS-CoV-2, and the dose needed
to inactivate the virus on a respirator surface is unknown.

72. Hydrogen peroxide vapor–Hydrogen peroxide vapor has been
observed to in activate other non- coronavirus single-stranded RNA
viruses on environmental surfaces .
Duke University Health System has created an in-house protocol
using hydrogen peroxide vapor for N95 decontamination . In some
regions, plans for large-scale decontamination (eg, tens of thousands
of respirators daily) with hydrogen peroxide vapor with proprietary
machinery are underway.

73. Moistheat–
Moist heat has been observed to reduce the concentration of
H1N1influenza virus on N95 respirator surfaces .
In this study, moist heat was applied by preparing a container with 1 L of
tap water in the bottom and a dry horizontal rack above the water; the
container was sealed and warmed in an oven to 65°C/150°F for at least
three hours; it was then opened, the respirator placed on the rack, and the
container resealed and placed back in the oven for an additional 30
minutes.
No residual H1N1 infectivity was found.
The optimal time and temperature to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 are
uncertain; several studies observed inactivation of SARS-CoV after 30 to
60 minutes at 60°C/140°F.

75. Perinatal Covid

76. During the current rapidly evolving pandemic of COVID-19 infection, pregnant
women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and their newborn infants form
a special vulnerable group that needs immediate attention.
Perinatal period poses unique challenges and care of the mother-baby requires
special resources for prevention of transmission, diagnosis of infection and
providing clinical care during labor, resuscitation and postnatal period.
The GRADE approach recommended by the World Health Organization was
used to develop the guideline. A Guideline Development Group (GDG)
comprising of obstetricians, neonatologists and pediatricians was constituted.
Existing guidelines, systematic reviews, clinical trials, narrative reviews and
other descriptive reports were reviewed.
The context, resources required, values and preferences were considered for
developing the recommendations.

77. Objectives
To provide recommendations for prevention of transmission,
diagnosis of infection and providing clinical care during labor,
resuscitation and postnatal period.

78. Recommendations
A set of twenty recommendations are provided under the
following broad headings: 1) pregnant women with travel
history, clinical suspicion or confirmed COVID-19 infection; 2)
neonatal care; 3) prevention and infection control; 4)
diagnosis; 5) general questions.

79. Pregnant Women:Of the 1794 articles on the coronavirus infection, 36 addressed the issue in
pregnant women. No clinical trials have compared specific care including isolation strategies in
pregnant women.
A total of eight studies (10 case series/reports and one retrospective cohort study) reported
outcome in 73 women with pregnancy and coronavirus infection. Due to absence of
comparative group it is not possible to estimate the effect of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy.
However, almost all pregnant women had mild infection.
One (1.4%) of 73 died due to severe disease. No clinical trials have compared specific care
including isolation strategies in pregnant women. Majority of women in these studies were
delivered by C-section; however, in the only case-control study, all controls were also delivered
by C-section. Incidence of C-section is high in China, from where all studies have originated,
and it is not possible to infer that Covid-19 infection increases the probability of C-section.
Literature indicates possibility of higher incidence of fetal distress in infected pregnant women.
However, due to small sample size and lack of comparison group, no definite inference can be
made. As pneumonia has been reported in the case reports, pregnant women with infection
need to be monitored for respiratory compromise during childbirth.

81. The treatment of COVID-19 viral infection has been attempted by two
approaches.
The first approach is the use of a combination of Hydroxychloroquine and
Azithromycin .
These drugs are readily available and cost-effective in India. The other
approach has been to use antiviral drugs, some of which are not yet available
in India.
Hydroxychloroquine in a dose of 600 mg (200 mg thrice a day with meals)
and Azithromycin (500 mg once a day) for 10 days has been shown to give
virologic cure on day 6 of treatment in 100% of treated patients in one study.
The study included 20 treated patients with upper and lower respiratory
symptoms. In this study, pregnancy was an exclusion criterion.
However, as such, both these drugs have been used in pregnancy and
during breastfeeding without significant effects on the mother or fetus.

82. Maternal-fetal Transmission and Neonatal
Cases
Schwartz, et al. described a series of 38 Chinese women in labor and delivery
who tested positive for COVID-19. All women were in the third trimester of
pregnancy, and SARS-CoV-2 positivity was confirmed by rt-PCR.
These pregnancies resulted in 39 infants (one set of twins); detailed clinical
information, obstetrical outcomes and SARS-CoV-2 status were available for 30
neonates.
Among these 30 neonates, there were no cases of rt-PCR-confirmed SARS-
CoV-2 infection, despite the existence of perinatal complications in some of the
infants.
The virus was not identified in the amniotic fluid, placenta, and breastmilk of six
mothers or in the nasal secretions of their neonates tested so far.

83. Early in the epidemic, two cases of neonatal SARS-CoV-19
infection were reported.
One was an infant diagnosed at 17 days of life having a history
of close contact with two confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2
infection (mother and nanny),
and the other was a neonate who was found to be infected 36
hours following delivery.
In both infants, there was no direct evidence for vertical
transmission, and because viral testing was delayed, a
postpartum neonatal infection acquired through an infected
contact could not be eliminated.

84. Neonatal exposure definitions:
As per the Chinese consensus guidelines, neonates are said
to be exposed to COVID-19 if they are born to the mothers
with a history of COVID-19 infection diagnosed 14 days
before delivery or 28 days after delivery, or if the neonate is
directly exposed to close contacts with COVID-19 infection
(including family members, caregivers, medical staff, and
visitors) .
They should be managed as patients under investigation
(PUI) irrespective of whether they are symptomatic or not.

85. Literature was searched for articles on the effect of COVID19/SARS-CoV-2 infection in
neonates or pregnant women or breast feeding.
Of the 1629 articles retrieved, 34 addressed the issue of perinatal and neonatal
management of COVID-19. No clinical trials have compared the effect of direct
breastfeeding with that of feeding expressed breastmilk (EBM), human donor milk, or
formula milk in neonates exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
A total of eight studies (7 case series/reports and one retrospective cohort study) reported
outcomes in 42 women with pregnancy and coronavirus infection.
Almost all (41 of 42) were delivered by C-section and the neonates were isolated from
their infected mothers. There was no evidence of vertical transmission of the infection
from mother to fetus/neonate.
The virus was not detected in expressed breastmilk either. Out of the eight studies, four
did not provide any details of the feeding policy; breastfeeding was not allowed in the
remaining four studies.

87. No clinical trials have compared isolation versus rooming-in of neonate with
mother.
Two neonates have been reported to have infection, one at 36 hour of birth and
second at 17 days of life
In the first case, baby was immediately isolated from the mother wearing N-95
mask during C-section. However, postnatal contact with another infected human
could not be ruled out; therefore, postnatal infection was considered most likely.
In the second case, household contact with two persons including mother was
present. An estimation of the risk of transmission of the Coronavirus has shown
basic reproduction number (R0) of 2.24 to 3.58 indicating high risk of infection
on contact with an infected human.
There is no evidence that this risk estimate does not apply to neonates in the
postnatal period.

89. No clinical trials have compared the effect of different antivirals, other drugs like
chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine or adjuvant treatment like corticosteroids and
intravenous gamma globulin in neonates.
A total of eight studies (7 case series/reports and one retrospective cohort
study) reported outcomes in 42 women with pregnancy and suspected or
confirmed COVID-19.
Most of them had an uneventful clinical course after birth. Only one infant died
during the birth hospitalization.
None of the infants received any specific treatment with antivirals or
chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine.
Two neonates, who were detected to have the infection, improved with only
supportive care.

90. RECOMMENDATIONS
Pregnant Women with Travel History, Clinical Suspicion or
Confirmed Infection
RECOMMENDATION 1:
Pregnant women with a history of travelto designated countries or areas,
or with exposure to a confirmed/suspected case of COVID-19 should be
isolated by using the guidelines for non- pregnant adults.
In the absence of community spread isolation at the designated facility
and in the presence of community spread, isolation by home quarantine
may be preferred.

91. Recommendation 2:The criteria for offering a laboratory test are the
same for pregnant women and the non-pregnant population.
Recommendation 3:Separate delivery room and operation theatres are
required for management of suspected or confirmed Covid19 mothers.
Both should have neonatal resuscitation corners located at least 2 m
away from the delivery table. Resources required include space,
equipment, supplies and trained healthcare providers for delivery,
caesarean section and neonatal resuscitation.
The standards and facilities required for infection control in these areas
should be same as that for other adults with suspected or confirmed
COVID-19.

92. Recommendation 4:
When providing healthcare to women in labor with confirmed or suspectedCOVID-19 infection,
follow standard universal precautions to prevent contact with body fluids. In addition, use personal
protective equipment (PPE) to prevent acquiring infection through respiratory droplets. The PPE
should include masks such as the N95 masks and face protection by a face shield or at least
goggles.
The women should inform the facility in advance of her arrival if possible, in order to allow time for
preparation.
Reception and triage should be in the same room earmarked for admission in labor and delivery.
Ideally, this should be a room with negative pressure (If not available, exhaust fans can be
installed).
Keep the room free from any unnecessary items (decorations, extra chairs, etc.) which could act as
infected fomites later.
There should be a restriction on the number of attendants and non-essential staff into the room.
There should be facilities for health care providers to remove and safely discard PPE at the exit of
the room in which the patient is being cared for.

93. Recommendation 5:
Mode of delivery in pregnant women infected with COVID-19 should be guided by
her obstetric assessment and her physiological stability (cardiorespiratory status and
oxygenation). COVID-19 infection itself is not an indication for induction of labor or
operative delivery.
Continuous electronic fetal monitoring should be done during labor. If facilities for
continuous electronic fetal monitoring are not available, manual monitoring by
frequent auscultation of fetal heart rate should be done during the labor as indicated
for a high-risk delivery.
Adequate equipment and trained healthcare providers should be available for
intrapartum monitoring and obstetric interventions as indicated in the separate
childbirth facilities for infected pregnant women.
Oxygenation status of women during labor should be monitored by a pulse oximeter
and oxygen therapy should be titrated to maintain oxygen saturation of more than
94%.

95. Recommendation 6:
Pregnant women with active COVID-19 infection should be managed with supportive and specific therapy as
recommended for non-pregnant adults.
Currently recommended management includes: - oxygen therapy/respiratory support, fluid therapy, antibiotics, shock
management, and specific drugs in severe cases.
Options:
Hydroxychloroquine 200 mg thrice-a-day with meals x 10 days OR 400 mg twice-a-day on day 1 and 400
mg once-a-day x 4 days + Azithromycin 500 mg twice-a-day 7days (Weak recommendation; Low quality evidence)
Lopinavir/ Ritonavir if any of the following criteria are met:
1. Hypoxia,
2. hypotension,
3. New onset organ dysfunction (one or more)
3.1.Increase in creatinine by 50% from baseline, GFR reduction by >25% from baseline or urine output of <0.5 ml/kg for
6 hours.
3.2.Reduction of GCS by 2 or more
3.3.Any other organ dysfunction.

96. 4. High Risk Groups:
4.1.Age> 60 years
4.2.Diabetes Mellitus, Renal Failure, Chronic Lung disease
4.3.Immunocompromised persons.
Dosage:
Lopinavir/ Ritonavir (200 mg/ 50 mg) – 2 tablets twice daily
For patients unable to take medications by mouth: Lopinavir 400mg/Ritonavir
100 mg – 5mL suspension twice daily
Duration: 14 days or for 7 days after becoming asymptomatic

97. Neonatal Care
Recommendation 7:
Recommendations for neonatal resuscitation:
If possible, resuscitation of neonate may be done in a physically separate but inter-connected adjacent room
earmarked for this purpose. If not feasible, the resuscitation warmer should be physically separated from the
mother’s delivery area by a distance of at least 2 meters. A curtain can be used between the two areas to minimize
opportunities for close contact.
Minimum number of personnel should attend (one person in low risk cases and two in high risk cases where
extensive resuscitation may be anticipated) and wear a full set of personal protective equipment including N95
mask.
Mother should perform hand hygiene and wear triple layer mask.
The umbilical cord should be clamped promptly and skin to skin contact avoided.
Delivery team member should bring over the neonate to the resuscitation area for assessment by the neonatal team.
Neonatal resuscitation should follow standard guidelines. If positive-pressure ventilation is needed, self-inflating bag
and mask may be preferred over T-piece resuscitator.

98. Recommendation 8:
A. Stable neonates exposed to COVID-19 infection from mothers or other relatives should be roomed- in
with their mothers and be exclusively breastfed.
B. If rooming-in is not possible because of the sickness in the neonate or the mother, the neonate should be
fed expressed breast milk (EBM) of the mother by a nurse or family member who has not been in contact
with the mother or other suspected/proven case, provided the neonate can tolerate enteral feeding.
(Weak recommendation, based on consensus among experts in the absence of evidence for any beneficial
effect or harm in the risk of COVID-19 following direct breastfeeding or expressed breastmilk feeding)
Conditions to be met
Mothers should perform hand hygiene frequently, including before and after breastfeeding and touching the
baby.
Mothers should practice respiratory hygiene and wear a mask while breastfeeding and providing other care
to the baby; they should routinely clean and disinfect the surfaces.
Mothers should express milk after washing hands and breasts and while wearing a mask. If possible, a
dedicated breast pump should be provided. It should be decontaminated as per protocol. Expressed milk
can be fed to the baby without pasteurization.
The collection and transport of EBM to the baby should be done very carefully to avoid contamination.

99. Recommendation 9
Scenario 1: If resources for isolation of normal, suspected to be infected and infected mothers
can be made available AND there is no evidence of community spread
After immediate cord clamping, the neonate should be isolated from the mother.
During isolation, healthy neonates should preferably be cared for by a nurse or family member not in
contact with mother or other suspected/proven case. Such care can be provided in an isolation ward
taking care that persons with suspected/proven infection are not allowed in the area.
Mother can express milk after washing hands and breasts and while wearing mask. This expressed milk
can be fed to her own baby without pasteurization.
Mother and baby can be roomed-in once mother has been tested and declared to be clear of infection.
To facilitate early rooming-in, viral testing in mothers with suspected infection should be conducted and
reported on priority.
If mother cannot be discharged and it is considered safe, early discharge to home with healthy family
member followed by telephonic follow-up or home visit by a designated healthcare worker can be
considered.

100. Scenario 2: Resources for isolation of normal, suspected to be
infected and infected mothers not available OR healthcare facilities
are overwhelmed because of large number of Coronavirus
infections OR evidence of community spread is present
Stable neonate may be roomed-in with mother in an isolation room. The
mother-baby dyad must be isolated from other COVID-19 cases.
Direct breastfeeding can be given. Mother should wash hands frequently
including before breastfeeding and wear mask. If needed due to
neonatal condition, expressed breast milk may also be fed.
If safe, early discharge to home followed by telephonic follow-up or
home visit by a designated healthcare worker may be considered.

101. Recommendation 10
Symptomatic neonates born to a mother with suspected or proven COVID-19 infection should be managed in separate isolation
NICU/SNCU.
This area should be away from the usual NICU/SNCU in asegregated area which is not frequented by other personnel. The access
to isolation NICU/SNCU should be through dedicated lift or guarded stairs.
Ideally, the isolation should be in single rooms.In case enough single rooms are not available, closed incubators (preferred) or
radiant warmers can be placed in a common isolation NICU/SNCU for neonates. The neonatal beds should be at a distance of at
least 1 meter from one another. Suspected COVID-19 cases and confirmed COVID-19 cases should ideally be managed in
separate isolations. If it is not feasible to have separate facilities and the neonates with suspected and confirmed infection are in a
single isolation facility, they should be segregated by leaving enough space between the two cohorts.
The isolation ward should have a separate double door entry with changing room and nursing station.
Negative air borne isolation rooms are preferred for patients requiring aerosolization procedures (respiratory support, suction,
nebulization). If not available, negative pressure could also be created by 2-4 exhaust fans driving air out of the room.
Isolation rooms should have adequate ventilation. If room is air-conditioned, ensure 12 air changes/ hour and filtering of exhaust air.
These areas should not be a part of the central air-conditioning.
The doctors, nursing and other support staff working in these isolation rooms should be separate from the ones who are working in
regular NICU/SNCU. The staff should be provided with adequate supplies of PPE. The staff also needs to be trained for safe use
and disposal of PPE.
If the facilities of isolation intensive care are not available in the hospital where symptomatic or sick newborn is born or referred
with COVID 19 infections, the newborn should be immediately shifted to State designated closest hospital where such facilities are
available. Complete safety and PPE policies and precautions must be followed during transport.

102. Recommendation 11
Respiratory support for neonates with suspected/proven COVID-19 infection is guided by usual principles of lung
protective strategy recommended for newborns.
Non-invasive ventilation is generally the preferred mode of respiratory support in neonates. Continuous positive
airway pressure (CPAP) should be used with minimal required flow. However, due to high potential for aerosol
generation, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and High Flow Nasal cannulas (HFNC) should be
avoided.
Healthcare providers should practice contact and droplet isolation and wear N95 mask while providing care in the
area where neonates with suspected/proven COVID-19 infection are being provided respiratory support.
The area providing respiratory support should be a negative air pressure area.
Recommendation 12
At present, specific anti-COVID-19 treatment - antivirals or chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine - is NOT
recommended in symptomatic or asymptomatic neonates with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. (Weak
recommendation, based on consensus among experts in the absence of evidence for any beneficial effect or harm
with the use of any of the options available)
Use of adjunctive therapy such as systemic corticosteroids and intravenous gamma globulin is NOT recommended
in symptomatic neonates with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. (Weak recommendation, based on consensus
among experts in the absence of evidence for any beneficial effect or harm with the use of any of the options
available)

104. Prevention and Infection Control
Recommendation 13
Disinfection of Surfaces in the childbirth and neonatal care areas for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19
infection are not different from those for usual Labor room/OT/NICU/SNCU areas and include the following:
Wear personal protective equipment before disinfecting.
If equipment or surface is visibly soiled first clean with soap and water solution or soaked cloth as appropriate before
applying the disinfectant.
0.5% sodium hypochlorite (equivalent to 5000 ppm) can be used to disinfect large surfaces like floors and walls at least
once per shift and for cleaning after a patient is transferred out of the area.
70% ethyl alcohol can be used to disinfect small areas between use, such as reusable dedicated equipment.
Hydrogen peroxide (dilute 100 ml of H2O2 10% v/v solution with 900 ml of distilled water) can be used for surface
cleaning of incubators, open care systems, infusion pumps, weighing scales,standby equipment-ventilators, monitors,
phototherapy units, and shelves.
Use H2O2 only when equipment is not being used for the patient. Contact period of 1 hour is needed for efficacy of
H2O2.

105. Recommendation 14
Minimal composition of a set of PPE for the management of suspected or
confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection is provided in Box

106. Diagnosis
Guidelines on testing of neonates for COVID-19 are provided
in Box

108. Recommendation 17
Parents and families of the COVID-19 exposed, suspected and infected mothers and
neonates should receive informed healthcare. They should be aware of and
understand the isolation, monitoring, diagnostic and treatment plans of the
mothers/babies and be given a periodic update about the health condition.
Visitors to both routine and COVID-19 specific childbirth/neonatal care areas should
be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
Persons (including parents) with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection should
not be allowed entry in the childbirth/neonatal care area where care to parturient
women/sick neonates is being provided.
For neonates roomed in with mother having suspect/confirmed COVID-19 infection,
one healthy family member following contact and droplet precautions should be
allowed to stay with her to assist in baby care activities.

109. Recommendation 18:
Stable neonates exposed to COVID-19 and being roomed-in with
their mothers may be discharged at time of mothers’ discharge.
(Weak recommendation, based on consensus among experts
based on the incubation period of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults
and older children)
Stable neonates in whom rooming-in is not possible because of
the sickness in the mother and are being cared by a trained family
member may be discharged from the facility by 24-48 hours of
age. (Weak recommendation, based on consensus among
experts in the absence of evidence for any beneficial effect or
harm with early discharge following exposure to COVID-19).

110. Remarks
Early discharge to home may be followed by a telephonic follow-up or home visit by
a designated healthcare worker.
Mothers and family members should be counselled regarding the danger signs and
advised to report back to the facility if the neonate develops any of the danger
signs.
If the neonate develops any danger signs or becomes unwell during home
isolation, he/she should be taken to a designated hospital facility for assessment as
well as COVID-19 testing (if indicated).
Mothers and family members should perform hand hygiene frequently including
before and after touching and feeding the baby.
Mothers should practice respiratory hygiene and wear a mask while breastfeeding
and providing other care to the baby; they should routinely clean and disinfect all
the surfaces.

111. Recommendation 19
Healthcare professional working in any childbirth or neonatal area should report to their
supervisor if they have respiratory or other symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 infection. Such
healthcare professional should not be put on clinical duty and should be replaced by a healthy
healthcare professional to maintain appropriate patient-provider ratio.
Healthcare professional directly involved in the care of patients with suspect/proven COVID-19
infection may consider taking hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) prophylaxis as advised by
Government of India, on medical prescription. However, this advisory is based on low-quality
evidence and may change in near future.
Recommendation 20
Follow routine immunization policy in healthy neonates born to mothers with suspected/proven
COVID-19 infection.
In neonates with suspected/proven infection, vaccination should be completed before
discharge from the hospital as per existing policy.

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