Guidelines for Handling COVID-19 Fatalities

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued guidelines for disposal of bodies of patients who died from COVID-19.

Biosafety Levels

Biosafety Levels or BSL is a set of bio-containment protocols used to isolate hazardous biological agents in laboratory facilities. There are 4 biosafety levels with the BSL-1 being the lowest and BSL-4 being the highest level of precaution. BSL are prescribed by WHO for infectious diseases, with regard to medical gears, bodies and disposables.

BSL-3

Biosafety Level 3 was prescribed by WHO for dealing with dead bodies of COVID-19 patients. It is generally prescribed for infectious microbes that use inhalation route to cause potentially lethal infections. It is also prescribed for working with SARS virus, MERS virus, yellow fever virus, chikungunya virus, etc.

Ministry’s Directives

The Health Ministry directed that all dead bodies (of COVID-19 patients) be cremated unless there are religious reasons for burial. If the body isn’t going to be cremated immediately, it must be preserved at 4 to 6 degree Celsius at the mortuaries. If burial is being opted for, the body is not to be touched. The bodies are not to be washed, hugged or kissed by the family. The bodies are to be packed in leakproof plastic. Autopsies are to be avoided unless there are serious doubts about the cause of death.