Cremation, burial of Covid victims safe: Civil Surgeon

Tribune News Service

Mohali, April 9

There is no chance of Covid transmission in crematorium or burial area, the district health department has said in an advisory to the public.

Also read: Punjab ministers dispel fear, attend funeral of Covid-19 victim

While clearing people’s doubts over cremation of victims, Civil Surgeon Dr Manjit Singh said the main driver of transmission was through droplets. There is no risk of Covid-19 infection from a dead body to health workers, family members or in the locality who follow standard precautions while handling body. 

Dr Manjit said if the protocol prescribed for transportation and disposal of dead bodies of Covid-19 positive persons was followed, there was no risk of any virus infection.

He appealed to the public to not panic as cremation of Covid-19 positive patient’s body did not pose any additional threat and even the ash did not pose any risk and could even be collected to perform the last rites. He said as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (GoI), the crematorium and burial ground staff needed to ensure hand hygiene, use of masks and gloves.

Besides, the viewing of the dead body by unzipping the face end of the body bag (by the staff using standard precautions) may be allowed, for the relatives to see the body for one last time and religious rituals such as reading from religious scripts, sprinkling holy water and any other last rites that does not require touching of the body are allowed. But, the bathing, kissing, hugging of the dead body is not allowed and the funeral/burial staff and family members should perform hand hygiene after cremation/ burial. Apart from this, large gathering at the crematorium/ burial ground should be avoided as a social distancing measure.