Handling the Covid-19 dead body - Measures and Precautions

Abstract

During 2019 December, in Wuhan city of China, a severe acute respiratory illness (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 was identified. Consequently, the virus reached different countries around the world. A pandemic was declared by WHO in March 2020. The incubation period for this virus is from 2 to 14 days and it is transmissible from human to human. Due to the increase in death toll because of COVID-19, the importance of dead body handling and management become a critical issue as the transmission of infection can occur during this. If standard precautions during handling of dead bodies are not complied with, it can exacerbate transmission. Risk is to be assessed and adequate explanation must be provided to the family members during the dead body handling, respecting the cultural and ritual practices in the community. Family members may be provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) with instructions on how to use it if the need arises. To contain the spread of infection during the handling of dead bodies, all the indicated measures and precautions should be followed. Guidelines on the management of covid 19 positive dead bodies have been issued by most health authorities around the globe. They are more or less similar except for minor variations.