by M.A. Kaleel

Recommendations of the Health Ministry appointed Experts Committee comprising Virologists, Microbiologists and Immunologists to revisit the guideline (1) on disposal of corpses of persons infected with SARS – CoV – 2 virus has released the following recommendations.  

1. The dignity of the dead and their families should be respected and protected as far as possible throughout the process used for the disposal of the body.

2. Designated healthcare personnel should only do the handling of the corpses.

3. The body should not be handed over to the relatives for cremation or burial.

4. Ensure all those who interact with the body (the healthcare and mortuary staff) apply standard infection prevention and control (IPC) precautions. Continuous and adequate hand hygiene supplies, PPE, cleaning and disinfection supplies should be made available.

5. The bodies for cremation or burial should not be embalmed.

6. The cremation or burial should be carried out within 24 hours, once the order for disposal of the body is given.

7. The body should be laid inside a double layered body bag, prior to placing in the coffin. The body bags should be of 300 um thickness, padded with absorbent material, leak proof and non-biodegradable.

8. Viewing of the body will be permitted only within the healthcare facility/mortuary.

9. If the family wishes to view the body, open/unzip the body bag and allow them to view the body at a one-meter distance wearing a mask and keeping a distance of one meter from each other. Touching the body or the belongings of the dead person is not permitted. The body should not be removed from the body bag for viewing.

10. Only 4 persons from the family will be allowed to view the body. Two persons at a time should be allowed to view the body and a maximum period of 5 min/per two persons should be allowed for viewing the body under supervision. A total period of 10 min is allowed for viewing the body.

11. When the body is transported to a crematorium/burial site by health authorities, a maximum of 4 persons from the family could be permitted to accompany the body in a separate mode of transport.

12. The crematorium/burial site designated by the healthcare authorities should be used for disposal of the body.

13. The coffin shall not be opened for any reason at the crematorium or the burial site.

14. Allow 10 minutes for any religious activity under supervision at the crematorium/burial site prior to cremating/burying while observing social distancing and standard precautions. Only one religious dignitary and 4 persons from the family will be permitted to be present during the religious activity.

15. The bottom of the grave should be 1.5 m from the ground surface and 1.2 m above the water table. The distance between burial site and field drains should be 10 m minimum. The distance between burial site and drinking wells, boreholes, and wells should be 250 m minimum. The distance between burial site and springs and water courses should be 30 m minimum as per current recommendations by Global experts.