Triage and Management of Pregnant Patients with Suspected COVID-19

March 26, 2020

DOH DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR NO. 2020-0159

 

Department Memorandum 2020-0108 dated March 11, 2020 or the "Guidelines for Management of Patients with Possible or Confirmed COVID-19," states that those who are elderly (age more than 60 years old) and those with co-morbidities are considered to be vulnerable populations. They should be tested for COVID-19 as well as admitted for isolation even if symptoms are mild. The guidelines, however, do not include pregnant patients as a vulnerable population of COVID-19.

This is to inform all healthcare providers that pregnant patients should be included as a vulnerable population in the triage and management of COVID-19. All pregnant patients, even those exhibiting only mild symptoms, should be treated as Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) and should be tested for COVID-19 via RT-PCR. Likewise, these patients should be admitted for isolation. Pending results of COVID-19 tests should not hinder their admission and the management of the pregnancy. HTcADC

Dissemination of the above information is requested.

(SGD.) FRANCISCO T. DUQUE III, MD, MScSecretary of Health