Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Sunday said pregnant women were not at “higher risk” of developing severe infection from the novel Coronavirus.
“Pregnant women are less likely to become severely unwell ifthey contract the novel virus,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan.
Quoting a WHO report,based on data from 147 pregnant women of whom 64 were confirmed to have the newCoronavirus, 82 were suspected cases and one was asymptomatic, he said onlyeight person had severe disease and just percent were critically ill.
“Most of the pregnant women had mild to moderate disease,”he said, adding “there have been no reported deaths of pregnant women from thedisease.”
He said there is no evidencethat the virus passes to the baby during pregnancy. “The studies are reassuring, but that doesnot mean we lower our guard,” Dr Hassan cautioned. “Pregnant women should takeall the same precautions as the general public, such as avoiding sick peopleand public gatherings, frequently washing hands,” he advised.
“In order to make hospital visits safer, we should make surewaiting rooms are not crowded, they are constantly clean and well and ill womenare separated,” he said.