Giving birth in Hong Kong during COVID-19
Whether it’s preparing for the arrival of your little one or dealing with giving birth anxieties (especially for new moms), there are a number of stress-inducing factors when you’re pregnant. Add COVID-19 and the new Omicron variant to the mix and things get even more stressful. After all, safety measures and rules have changed (and continue to change!). But worry not, this Pacific Prime Hong Kong will give you an up-to-date, practical guide on what to expect when giving birth during COVID-19.
What if pregnant women test positive for COVID-19?
Pregnant women who test positive for COVID-19 will be contacted by Hong Kong’s Department of Health (DOH) to arrange admission to a public hospital for isolation and treatment. It’s not clear whether pregnant women will receive the same treatment as non-pregnant individuals, and it’s likely that medical staff will assess on a case-by-case basis. While waiting for admission to a hospital, it’s necessary to stay at home and avoid mixing with others.
Meals and basic daily personal necessities (e.g. toilet paper) will be provided, though you can also bring your own items like clothes and any daily medication. The DOH will also investigate your close contacts and arrange for them to quarantine as well. If close contacts are from the same household as the pregnant woman, they can share the same unit depending on factors like unit availability, unit size, and family make up.
Giving birth when confirmed with COVID-19
It is normal procedure for pregnant women to be tested for COVID-19 before being admitted to a hospital, but there usually isn’t anything to worry about. According to various studies so far, no active virus has been detected in samples of fluid around the baby or in breast milk. Based on this, the WHO has stated that pregnant women with COVID-19 can still give birth naturally should they wish to. That being said, it’s advisable that the mother wears a face mask to reduce the risk of transmission when interacting with the newborn.
Can partners be in the delivery room?
Having your partner by your side can help you feel at ease when giving birth. While this is usually allowed in Hong Kong public hospitals, the Hospital Authority (HA) barred partners from the delivery room when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Many couples only found out when admitted to the maternity ward. This rule only applied to public hospitals as private hospitals don’t come under the HA’s regulations.
Fortunately, this rule has been reversed. As of January 12th, 2021, partners are allowed back into the delivery room in public hospitals if they can present a negative COVID-19 test. The test has to be taken within the past 3 days. However, partners are not allowed to be with the mother until she is in active labor and is tested negative for COVID-19. As for private hospitals, partners may also need to be tested for COVID-19 depending on the hospital policy.
Note: Even though partners are now allowed in the delivery room, this raises an important consideration. If the situation calls for it in the near future, the HA may bar partners from the delivery room in public hospitals once again.
When partners shouldn’t be in the delivery room
That being said, patient safety is still of utmost priority in private hospitals. Partners need to be mindful of their own health and understand that COVID-19 safety measures still apply to them. Factors that can prevent them from being in the delivery room include:
- High body temperatures (usually more than 38℃)
- Testing positive with COVID-19 in the past 28 days or being a close contact of anyone who has
- History of travel to regions of risk in the past 21 days
- COVID-19 symptoms such as nasal congestion, headache, sore throat, etc.
- And more.
This list is purely for reference as they can change from time to time. It’s best to contact the private hospital you’ve chosen directly to inquire about the latest rules. This ensures that there are no last minute surprises or disappointments.
Can family and friends visit the hospital to see the newborn?
Public hospitals in Hong Kong have generally suspended their visiting hours as the Emergency Response Level remains active. This means that loved ones won’t be able to visit your or your newborn at the hospital. However, visiting rules can also vary across units in public hospitals so it’s best to check with the hospital for specific regulations. For example, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is limited for parents with restrictions on days and numbers of visits.
In contrast, visiting hours vary widely amongst private hospitals in Hong Kong so it’s best to check with them directly to see which rules apply to your specific arrangement. The visitor restrictions are related to the maximum number of visits per day/stay, the maximum number of visitors, reduced visiting hours, visitors requiring negative COVID-19 test certificates, pre-registration of visitors upon admission, and more.
Take charge of your pregnancy with a maternity insurance plan via Pacific Prime Hong Kong
Giving birth during COVID-19 and Omicron is no easy feat. If you want to access private hospitals for added convenience and comfort, and don’t want medical bills to be a source of your stress, then a maternity insurance plan is for you. That being said, you need to secure this before you get pregnant as virtually all maternity plans come with waiting periods of 10 to 12 months. You can also secure newborn insurance to ensure that your little one is protected.
To get started on all things health insurance, feel free to reach out to the team at Pacific Prime Hong Kong. With over two decades of experience in the sector, our highly-trained and expert insurance advisors provide you with 100% impartial advice, a tailored plan comparison and free quote, and heaps of support and assistance throughout your insurance journey. Contact us today!
With over 5 years of experience in the field, Suphanida spends the majority of her day synthesizing complex pieces of insurance-related information and translating this into easy-to-understand, engaging, and effective content across a variety of media such as articles, infographics, whitepapers, videos, and more.
Suphanida is also responsible for planning and publishing three whitepapers released annually by Pacific Prime: The State of Health Insurance Report, The Cost of Health Insurance Report, and The Global Employee Benefits Trends Report. Additionally, she handles the LinkedIn profiles of Pacific Prime’s Founder and CEO, as well as Global HR Lead.
Suphanida’s strengths lie in her strong research and analytical skills, which she has gained from her BA in Politics from the University of Warwick and Erasmus Mundus Joint MA in Journalism from Aarhus University and City, University of London.
Being of Thai-Indian origin and having lived, studied, and worked in Thailand, the UK, and Denmark, Suphanida also has a unique, multicultural perspective that helps her understand the struggles of expats and globetrotters.
Outside of work, she enjoys traveling to new places and immersing herself in different cultures.
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