Burial For Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Dead Bodies

Covid-19 (coronavirus) has infected millions around the world. Killing thousands daily, it has left the world burying their dead in number. In many instances, burial rites are no longer followed. And because of the nature of their deaths, burial has to be done by the government. This is because the corpse's may be contagious.

Although the world health organization (WHO) has not confirmed touching dead covid-19 patient bodies as part of transmission, it is important to avoid such exposure because it is not impossible to experience such with other coronavirus.

Read Also: How to wear personal protective equipment (PPE)

Different centers for disease controls for different countries have map out burials arrangements for people who died of covid-19. They all follow a similar pattern set out by the WHO.

In some countries with shortage of morgue, families of people who died of covid-19 have just 14 days to claim the body for burial. This is similar to what is currently happening in Lagos State government hospital in Nigeria. They even made their own more general. They sent out a message to people to come forward to claim dead bodies in their mortuary or risk losing them to mass burial.

Burial For Person Who Died Of Covid-19

Once the family gets to know of the death, they are expected to fix a date as soon as possible. This is not just because there is no space for mortuary but fear the body can be infectious. The WHO warns of embalming dead covid-19 patients. The date is communicated with the hospital.

Covid-19 Team

For adequate protection, the covid-19 team will consist of four members wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). One sprayer with full PPE in addition to a communicator, a technical supervisor and a religious representative all of which do not need a PPE. They all have different functions. The four members handle the body why the communicator job is to enlighten the family and public on the need for the extra caution as well as what they should do to prevent community transmission of the virus. The communicator is usually somebody that can speak the language very well. He or she carries messages from the family to the team. The supervisor directs the whole show while the religious person is there to offer religious service if the family did not provide one and approve of it.

There are two scenarios. The death could have happened in the hospital or at home. If at the hospital, the body is prepared from there to the burial site. The WHO does not recommend embalming dead bodies of covid-19 patients. But some countries' guidelines do not forbid it. According to WHO, it reduces the risk of infection due to too much handling of the body. Most countries with few cases still embalm. However, in case the person died at home, it will require some more work. It could mean bringing the body to the hospital to stay for some days before burial or outright burial.

Materials Needed

The team needs a full PPE for all four members, disinfectant for body and surfaces and appropriate body bag (leak proof with four hands). Others include leak proof puncture resistant sharp box, two leak proof infectious waste bags (one for disposable materials to be destroyed and the other for reusable materials to be disinfected). The PPE consists of a long sleeve disposable gown, plastic apron, fluid resistant face mask, eye protection goggles, disposable gloves and rubber boots. The body bag must be selected based on the body weight and size. But in a situation the team is not aware of such information, they go along with different sizes.

The Burial

Burial of covid-19 patient

The covid-19 team prepares disinfectant solutions that very day. There are two types. The first is for disinfecting the body and the second is for surfaces. The body disinfectant is 0.05% chlorine solution and that for surface is 0.5% solution.

The team put on their attire ready for the business of the day. Those in PPE adore it with the assistant of the other team members. They enter their vehicle to the house. There is no special consideration for the type of vehicle to use. The vehicle should have a space for the coffin the size of the person.

Immediately the team gets down, the communicator addresses the family. If the family wants an autopsy, it should be done in the house. Every person is required to wait outside. If a coffin is to be used, the coffin should be placed outside the building. The four members go in. If it is a woman that died, it will be better to use women as the covid-19 team if available.

The body bag is placed by the side of the body. They said the body fluid can expel from body cavities during handling. So a surgical mask is placed over the mouth and nose. The body bag is open and the body drops inside using the hands and legs of the dead body.

If autopsy is required, the body should be taken to a well ventilated room for that purpose. The table is first disinfected with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (bleach) or 70% ethanol for a minute. All waste must be treated as highly infectious.

They will place the dead body in the body bag and zip close. The body bag is disinfected using the disinfectant. Using the four hands of the body bags, they will bring the body outside and place it inside the coffin. The coffin is disinfected. However, in standard settings the family can offer some rites depending on their tradition. Some like to close the coffin themselves. Others may want to place a letter inside. They can because at this stage, the body is not suspected to be infectious. According to the CDC, being in the same room where a dead body from covid-19 patient is not known to be risky. But family members who want to come near should wear hand gloves.

The house can then be disinfected. The clothing of the disease can be destroyed or disinfected depending on the preference of the family. The clothing should be dry clean using a temperature as high as 100°c for 30minutes using detergent. Where this is not available the clothes can be washed in a big drum of hot water and detergent using a stick as stirrer. The linens can then be soaked in a 0.05% chlorine solution for 30 minutes before drying in the sun or dryer.

Burning of the deceased belongings should be done in accordance with the family. But it should be far away from the compound. And the whole material should burn completely before leaving.

The coffin can then be taken into the car with the head facing front. No family member should sit close to it. Only members of the team with PPE can. At the funeral, ropes are tied to the coffin and then lowered into the grave. Anybody can dig the grave and normal 6 feet. All funeral rites according to the family can be observed.

To avoid community transmission, it is recommended that all members of the family as well as well wishers should not exceed 20 in attendance. And the programme should be held in a ventilated location with adequate spacing between people. Old and vulnerable groups like elderly and the sick should avoid the burial. All in attendance should practice hand hygiene during and after the burial. Facemask is not a bad idea if worn properly.

Read Also: Types of facemask

After the burial, the sprayer disinfects the four team members using the surface disinfectant. Before removing PPE, all team members should ask and answer if everything has been done.

It is time to remove the PPE. The PPE should be removed leaving the boot. CDC did not say how to dispose of the PPE in their guideline. However, the disposable PPE should be placed in the disposable infectious waste bag. The others which are reusable are placed inside the disinfectant waste bag for proper disinfection. Both are placed inside the vehicle and drive back to the hospital. The sprayer disinfects their boots before entering the hospital. The disposable waste bag is taken to the incinerator or where it can be burned and the other taken to where it can be disinfected. The team members then remove the boot and practice hand hygiene.

The only difference between this and mass burial is that mass burial is done in a government land and many of the victims family may not be there. However, some government provide some cultural rites to honour the dead.

Share On Social Media With Family And Friends To Show You Care!