<span style="color: #222222;">Almost two months after the state reported multiple cases of women being harassed in COVID care centres across the state, the Maharashtra Government has issued a 16-point SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) to ensure that such incidents are not repeated again.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Maharashtra Government has now made it compulsory for all COVID care centres to have a dedicated women's ward with uninterrupted supply of water and electricity along with at least one bathroom and toilet for every 20 patients. Besides a security guard who must maintain a diary with details of all the people who are entering the ward; all the entry and exit points of the said ward must have CCTV cameras. According to the SOPs issued by the state government, the ward must have a panic alarm button that women can use in emergencies and also a grievance redressal cell. To ensure absolute safety, Maharashtra Government has said that male staff, including doctors and those involved in pantry and cleaning work, should not be allotted duty in women COVID wards. In case a male doctor has to attend a patient in case of emergency or otherwise, he must be accompanied by a female staff member and must compulsorily knock before entering the ward. It adds that a female staff member must accompany the patient while being taken for conducting tests like X-ray, CT scan, ECG, etc. As per the norms, an ambulance facility and a female attendant must compulsorily accompany a pregnant patient in case she has to be shifted to another hospital.</span><br />''  <br />