Abba Kyari: What Should Happen To A Covid-19 Corpse

According to the official report, Abba Kyari died in the early hours of today. His body was flown from Lagos to Abuja for a private funeral according to NCDC protocol and Muslim right. What does NCDC protocol say about the burial of a COVID-19 corpse?
There is currently an uproar over the burial of the former Chief of Staff. It is believed that he was given a preferential treatment against NCDC's protocol which says Body of COVID-19 victims cannot be claimed, a statement attributed to the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. It is therefore imperative to clear the air on this matter. However, this claim is not found in the guideline of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC). But the question we must also ask is, how were other corpses treated? Were families diseased allowed to claim or be part of the burial?
What does NCDC protocol say about the burial of a COVID-19 corpse?
Below are sections of the NCDC protocol that addressed this issue, as contained in a PDF Document of the conter:
General information
Except in cases of hemorrhagic fevers (such as Lassa fever and Ebola) and
cholera, dead bodies are generally not infectious. Only the lungs of patients
with pandemic influenza, if handled improperly during autopsy, can be
infectious. To date, there is no evidence of infectious bodies of persons who
died of COVID-19.
There are two circumstances in which contact with a deceased body of a
a known or suspected case of COVID-19 may occur.
1. Patients who died in a treatment center or other healthcare setting.
2. A person who died at home or another location outside a healthcare setting
and is known or strongly suspected to have had COVID-19
Whether a COVID-19 patient died in the health facility or in the community,
the body must be granted a safe and dignified burial.
The safety and well-being of everyone who tends to bodies should be the
first priority. Only burial team members that have been trained in IPC and
safe burial practices should be allowed to handle dead bodies and conduct
burials. The team should have the necessary resources such as PPEs, body
bags, disinfectant and appropriate transportation.
Funeral home/mortuary care
• Family members, religious leaders, health care workers or mortuary staff
preparing the body should wear appropriate PPE according to standard
precautions (gloves, impermeable disposable gown [or disposable gown
with impermeable apron, medical mask, eye protection);
• If the family wishes only to view the body and not touch it, they may do so,
using standard precautions at all times including hand hygiene.
• Give the family clear instructions not to touch or kiss the body
• Embalming is not recommended to avoid excessive manipulation of the
body
• Adults over 60 years and immunosuppressed persons should not directly
interact with the body.
Burial rights and procedures
The remains of people who have died from COVID-19 can be buried or
cremated.
• Dead bodies of people suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 should
be treated with respect, ensuring the rights of the dead to a dignifying
burial are upheld; adhering to standard precautions including use of
appropriate PPEs, hand hygiene before and after the burial procedure.
• Family and friends may view the body after it has been prepared for
burial, in accordance with customs. They should not touch or kiss the body
and should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after the viewing.
Those tasked with placing the body in the grave, on the funeral pyre, etc.,
should wear gloves and wash hands with soap and water after removal of
the gloves once the burial is complete.
• In the contexts where mortuary services are not standard or reliably
available, or where it is usual for ill people to die at home, families and
traditional burial attendants can be equipped and educated to bury
people under supervision.
• The bodies of persons that have died of COVID-19 should be handled
minimally.
• Any person (e.g. family member, religious leader) preparing the deceased
(e.g. washing, cleaning or dressing body, tidying hair, trimming nails or
shaving) in a community setting should wear gloves for any contact with
the body. For any activity that may involve splashing of bodily fluids, eye
and mouth protection (face shield or goggles and medical mask) should be
worn. Clothing worn to prepare the body should be immediately removed
and washed after the procedure, or an apron or gown should be worn;
• The person preparing the body should not kiss the deceased.
• Anyone who has assisted in preparing the body should thoroughly wash
their hands with soap and water when finished
• Apply principles of cultural sensitivity and ensure that family members
reduce their exposure as much as possible. Children, older people (>60
years old), and anyone with underlying illnesses (such as respiratory
illness, heart disease, diabetes, or compromised immune systems) should
not be involved in preparing the body.
• A minimum number of people should be involved in preparations. Others
may observe without touching the body at a minimum distance of 2 metres;
• Family and friends may view the body after it has been prepared for
burial, in accordance with customs. They should not touch or kiss the body
and should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water following the
viewing; physical distancing measures should be strictly applied (at least 2
meters between people).
• People with respiratory symptoms should not participate in any of the burial
activities.
• Although burials should take place in a timely manner, in accordance
with local practices, funeral ceremonies not involving the burial should be
postponed, as much as possible, until the end of the pandemic.
• In the event a ceremony is held, the number of attendees should be limited.
The ceremony should be held in a well-ventilated structure, attendees should
be advised on social distancing throughout the event, ensuring practice of
hand and respiratory hygiene.
• The belongings of the deceased person do not need to be burned or
otherwise disposed of. However, they should be handled with gloves and
cleaned with a detergent followed by disinfection with a solution of at least
70% ethanol or 0.5% bleach.
• Clothing and other fabric belonging to the deceased should be machine
washed with warm water at 60?90°C (140?194°F) and laundry detergent.
If machine washing is not possible, linens can be soaked in hot water
and soap in a large drum using a stick to stir and being careful to avoid
splashing. The drum should then be emptied, and the linens soaked in
0.05% chlorine for approximately 30 minutes. Finally, the laundry should
be rinsed with clean water and the linens allowed to dry fully
Source: NCDC - Safe Management of a Dead Body IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19
Written by Emdee David
Posted by: Emdee David
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