Govt issues new guidelines for disposal of bodies
Bhubaneswar: The state government on Saturday allowed authorities to dispose of the bodies of Covid-19 confirmed/suspected cases as per the custom of the religion/sect of the deceased if the family members were not willing to take part in the cremation or burial.
If the religion/sect of the deceased is not known, the authorities may follow either procedure (cremation or burial) for disposal of the body.
State special relief commissioner PK Jena on Saturday issued detail guidelines for management of body of deceased Covid-19 patients. The guidelines have been issued based on the advisory issued by the Union ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW).
According to the guidelines, if the family of the patient wishes to see the body at the time of removal from the isolation room or area, they would be allowed to do so with the application of the standard procedures. Bathing, kissing and hugging the body are, however, strictly prohibited.
While disposing the body at the crematorium/ burial ground, the family members should be allowed to perform the last rites according to their religion/faith without touching the body, said Jena. tnn