Dignity should be given to the dead and relatives, says Health expert

Spreading of Covid-19 through dead body is practically NIL if safety measures are followed

Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 29 (EMN): Many communities in Nagaland still refuse the burial of a deceased person, who lost battle to Covid-19, within its jurisdiction or at preferred location, despite several assurances from the Health authorities that the dead body cannot spread the virus if safe disposal measures are followed.

“Dead body will not speak; it will not cough, so contamination is practically nil,” Dr. Puse Liegise, Joint Director of Health and Family Welfare, told Eastern Mirror.

He, however, stressed that dead body must be handled with care.

‘With proper care, we should be able to safely handle the dead bodies and it does not create too much risk to the society,’ he said, adding that what one has to be careful is the body fluid and contaminated clothes the deceased person might have been wearing before he or she passed away.

In his message to those who fear of contracting the disease through a dead body, Dr. Liegise said: “Dignity should be given to the dead as well as to the relatives. We should not stigmatise it.”

‘Death would not add risk if basic precautions are followed and people need not fear too much but should consciously give dignity to the dead,’ he said, adding that ‘coronavirus is here to stay’.

Giving further instructions on management of the dead body, the doctor said that post mortality, one has to disinfect the room, clothes, and the dead body itself by wearing proper PPE — gloves, mask, face shield (if possible) and gown.

The body has to be disinfected using 1% sodium hypochlorite solution, put in a non-leak (body) bag and disinfect with 1% hypochlorite. Rather than spraying, it has to be mopped. The body bag should be kept for 30 minutes after mopping and placed inside the coffin. Exterior of coffin has to be disinfected with 1% hypochlorite again, after which, it can be safely handed over to the relatives and family members, the doctor informed.

As for family and relatives, the state government has already issued the guideline that funeral crowd should not exceed 20 people.

The official further informed that relatives are allowed to observe the dead body in a regulated manner but once the body is placed in the coffin, they are advised not to open it again at the burial side.