Last edited Sat Jun 13, 2020, 03:38 PM - Edit history (1)

Everyone who comes in for delivery is tested for COVID-19, and if positive, they are put in a separate labor/delivery section from non-positive people and the baby is taken to neonatal intensive care, as a precaution, for a period.

Here's an example from the Chicago region:

Faber, of Darien, had tested positive for COVID-19 while giving birth at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, so the baby was taken to neonatal intensive care as a precaution.

Faber didn’t get to touch her child. It would be 12 days before she could hold him.

Faber was devastated, but she understood.“It was just disheartening because what could I do?” said Faber, 39. “All I kept thinking was, I just want to make sure he’s OK. I wanted him to be safe.”

Chicago-area hospitals, and others across the country, are recommending that mothers with COVID-19 be separated from their newborns right after birth, in line with guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics. They are often apart in the hospital for at least 24 hours, until the baby can go home with the parents — including the mom, who’s advised to keep her distance — or other family members.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-giving-birth-while-covid-positive-illinois-20200515-gi4psnu7enderfd5uac3e6fhsq-story.html

Poor parents and babies, but it has to be for their sakes.

As I said in OP, I found article bit confusing

Propublica, a very highly regarded investigative journalism source that mostly focuses on social justice issues, is reporting on what happened at that hospital.

But they were singling out women who they thought looked Native American, and singled them out for additional testing without their consent, even if they had no symptoms. All done in secret. Because the hospital doesn't have a quick test, mothers subjected to this additional testing were separated from their newborns until the results came back.

I listened to the head of obstetrics at a major hospital talk about this procedure.

I would be very surprised if the hospital in question were not testing everyone. They should be, for sure.

ON EDIT: I did a bit of further research. Here are the regulations at Lovelace for labor/delivery:

ovelace Women’s Hospital is here for you to help keep you and your baby safe. We are taking steps to ensure a safe delivery for you and your baby during this time, including:

Daily COVID-19 screenings for all patients and staff – temperature checks and daily questionnaires about potential exposure
COVID-19 tests administered to patients that are high risk
Separate facilities for treating COVID-19 patients and those awaiting COVID test results
All patients, staff and visitors are required to wear a mask

https://lovelace.com/services/labor-delivery

In 2020, Native Americans across New Mexico, the majority of whom live on remote tribal lands, are dying of COVID-19 at rates 19 times that of all other populations combined, according to data provided by the state Department of Health. They account for 57% of the state’s cases – despite only being 11% of the population – and have infection rates 14 times that of the rest of the population. Other states have also had disproportionately high rates of COVID in Native communities.

“Unfortunately, American Indians have the worst health status for infectious diseases,” said Dr. Michael Landen, the state epidemiologist, with the New Mexico Department of Health. “I would have expected to see a higher rate among American Indians. I would not have expected to see it this much higher; this is just so disproportionate

https://www.abqjournal.com/1461218/huge-disparity-in-covid19-death-rates-for-native-americans-in-nm.html

based on whether someone "looks Native American".