Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department on September 23 directed all government and private hospitals, allotted for the treatment of COVID-19, to submit death reports within 48 hours of the death of a patient for a state-level audit.

For our comprehensive coverage and latest updates on COVID-19 click here.

The hospitals have also been directed to submit reports related to the COVID test status and investigation into the death of patients within the same time frame. All deaths of the COVID-19 positive patients are being audited at the state level to determine the cause of death.

The hospitals have also been directed to record all pre-existing diseases with signs and symptoms at the time of admission of a patient, along with a report on the treatment of the concerned co-morbid condition. Further, COVID-19 test after death is being discouraged to avoid undue delay in the release of bodies and harassment of families.