Pregnant women will be tested for coronavirus upon admission to maternity wards.
Health boards across Scotland have rolled out the testing procedure as of today (January 18) as part of the Scottish Government 's wider testing programme.
The news comes as it was announced hospital Covid admissions in Scotland are 500 above the previous peak.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran announced the roll out on its Ayrshire Maternity Unit Facebook page and confirmed the move was in line with Scottish Government guidance.
A spokeswoman for NHSAAA said: "NHS Ayrshire & Arran is committed to providing safe, effective and quality services to our communities and has been working hard to support women throughout their pregnancy.
"From today (Monday 18 January 2021) in line with Scottish Government guidance and other health boards across Scotland, pregnant women being admitted as an inpatient to Ayrshire Maternity Unit at University Hospital Crosshouse will require to be tested for COVID-19.
"This includes women being admitted for induction of labour, elective caesarean section and any emergency admissions to the unit."
Women responded to the announcement on social media with some welcoming the testing.
One woman said: "Having been admitted earlier in my pregnancy with an infection I had to get tested due to high temp but the test wasn't anywhere near as bad as I expected it to be."
Another said: "This is reassuring. Will definitely make me feel at ease knowing folk are being tested."
However others had more questions regarding the testing, particularly around whether birthing partners would be tested too.
One woman said: "Doesn’t really make sense so I have to have a test which am fine with but my birthing partner can’t stay the full time am in labour but can go in and out the hospital with no test and risk anyone in the hospital they should be tested aswell and be aloud to stay for the full time am in hospital feel sorry for all the new mums out there doing it alone."
The Scottish Government was contacted for comment.
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