Deceased Covid-19 patients have to be buried in 12hrs

THE Department of Health (DOH) Davao said that a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patient who will die due to the infectious disease has to be buried or cremated within 12 hours.

DOH-Davao regional director Dr. Annabelle Yumang said in a virtual presser yesterday that since Covid-19 is a highly infectious disease and to prevent contamination, the dead body must be buried immediately or cremated.

Families of the victim are not allowed to go near the victim unless their dead body is already inside the coffin or has been cremated. Yumang emphasized that the coffin for Covid-19 positive fatality will not be the regular coffin offered by funerals.

From the hospital, the cadaver must be properly sealed in a leak-proof bag and placed in a metal casket which should be airtight to prevent contamination for public safety.

Earlier, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the City Government of Davao has prepared a mass burial site in Tagakpan, Davao City in case the health crisis will worsen.

In Davao Region, there are a total of six positive patients for coronavirus. Five of which are currently admitted in two state-run hospitals in namely Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City and Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Tagum City.

The first confirmed case, a 21-year-old Filipina, was able to recover and discharged from the hospital.

Yumang did not further give details on the condition of the five remaining patients who are in the hospitals. /For full story visit sunstar.com.ph/davao