‘No increased risk through droplet infection from Covid-19 victim’

Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 25 (EMN): The Health department has issued an advisory dispelling the myths and confusions regarding the safe burial of a dead Covid-19 patient.

“There is no increased risk through droplet infection from a dead body to health workers or family members as the dead body will not cough, sneeze, breathe, talk,” stated notification issued on April 24.

The state Home department had also issued guidelines on dead body management on April 13 in line with the notification issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and interim guidance issued  by World Health Organisation (WHO) on ‘Infection prevention and control for the safe management of dead body in the context of Covid-19.’

However, the Health department stated that standard infection prevention control practices should be followed at all times as precaution against surface contamination such as use of PPE (gloves, masks and plastic aprons for those directly handling the dead body), exercise of hand hygiene and safe handling of sharp objects.

The directorate of Health and Family Welfare also conducted a press conference on April 23 informing journalists about the advisory.

It also informed about the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the removal of a dead body from the mortuary/room.

“Following standard infection prevention control measures health workers will remove all tubes, drain and catheter from the dead body and sanitise the body with one percent hypochlorite solution.”

It further stated that the family of the deceased person can be allowed to view the body if they wished to do so but advised to avoid touching by wearing masks and gloves. The body will be packed with leak-proof plastic body cover or leak-proof plastic sheets, and placed in the coffin.

The coffin would then be disinfected with one percent hypochlorite, kept for 30 minutes and will be handed over to the family. However in the case of the inability of family to come forward to take the dead body, it will be disposed off by the district task force, it stated.

Principal Director Dr. Vizolie Suokhrie also maintained that the district task forces and the empowered group headed by the additional chief secretary and finance commissioner are working to identify a mortuary and places for burial.

The SOP also advised the relatives not to open the sealed body and the healthcare workers would carry out the formalities according to the operative procedure for safe handling. The coffin will be delivered to the family for performing the final rites, it added.

With regard to transportation, the notification informed that the decontaminated leak-proof body or coffin do not pose any additional risk to anyone adding that the vehicle used for transportation ‘may be cleaned with one percent hypochlorite or formulated bleaching powder as a general procedure.’

Health officials maintained that the deceased can be given a dignified burial stating that the body once buried will have no health or environmental hazards.

The notification further stated that religious rituals that does not require opening of the coffin can be allowed. It further stated that the persons involved in the funeral (funeral/burial staff and family members) should perform hand hygiene after the burial or cremation by washing hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

The body should not be taken out from the sealed coffin and should be buried or cremated with the coffin while stating that ash does not have any risk after cremation and can be collected to perform the last rites.