KIN OF COVID +VE ALLOWED TO PAY FINAL RESPECTS

The Mamata Banerjee government has allowed the family members of the Covid-19 deceased in West Bengal to see their bodies and also pay their last respect to them. The decision, which came more than two months after the pandemic broke, was taken following the Calcutta High Court’s order for a report on the allegations of last rites of the bodies in disrespectful way.

The state health department informed, “Dead body disposal is a significant part of over-all management of Covid-19. It is important that infection control procedures should be followed from the public health point of view. The concerned health facility and other associated agencies shall ensure that the existing guidelines relating to dead body disposal scrupulously followed.”

It said, “However, in order to ensure that the family members of deceased person are given an opportunity to pay their last respect, following will be the standard procedure to be followed strictly by every hospital dealing with Covid patients: In the event of death of a patient, the hospital authorities shall inform the family members within one hour of death. A body cover with transparent face area shall be used. The body cover supplied earlier shall not be used. Mask and gloves will be provided to the family by the concerned hospital after proper sanitisation. The dead body should be kept at a suitable place for 30 minutes during which the family members shall be allowed to pay their last respects.”