To the editor

From January 24 to March 15, 2020, there were 3294 pregnant women who had vaginal or operative deliveries in the Maternal and Children Health Hospital of Hubei Province in Wuhan, China, of whom 110 with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 infection.

Given an increasing number of pregnant women, COVID-19 infection has been as one indication for cesarean section since 24 January 2020 in our hospital.

Anesthesiologists had a high exposure risk to SARS-CoV-2 when conducting cesarean section for pregnant women with COVID-19.

In response, we upgraded infection prevention and control (IPC) practice to the highest level according to the national guideline.

One negative pressure operating room was dedicated to all operations on pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia.

Pregnant women with confirmed and suspected COVID-19 were required to wear a surgical mask upon arrival to operation room during surgery.

They were moved to isolation wards immediately after surgery. Some newborns stayed in neonatal wards and others were sent home to be taken care by family members.