Locals in Chennai protest against a COVID patient, an AP doctor's burial

Nellore : An Orthopedic doctor from Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, infected with COVID-19, died on April 12, while under going treatment at a Corporate hospital in Chennai. The worst followed the AP doctor's death, as locals in Chennai’s Ambattur area, sat in protest, against the cremation.

The Hindu reported, that, the Chennai health officials had kept the body in a vehicle for hours while they tried to pursue the agitators to allow cremation. The local residents, defying lockdown orders, gathered in protest fearing that cremation of the body could result in the spread of novel Coronavirus in the area.

To note the World Health Organisation (WHO) had mentioned that virus does not spread from the dead.

‘The doctor from Nellore, who tested COVID positive died while undergoing treatment on Monday. His body was taken to Ambattur crematorium. However, the locals protested against the burial. We are working out a strategy to bury the body as soon as possible’ an officials with Chennai corporation, said.

According to the mandatory procedure, the body of a COVID-19 patient is not handed over the family members. Also the family not more than three persons are allowed to see the body in the hospital through the protected glass window. Nor they are not allowed to enter the mortuary or come into contact with the deceased person

The Orthopedic doctor from Nellore, tested positive for COVID, few days after he inaugurated his new clinic in Pogathota area. His death pressed the panic button, because many including the YSRCP party men attended the inauguration on March 29. All have been identified and isolated.

He is survived by wife and a four-year-old son. The medical reports of his family turned out to be negative.

What does the procedure say about the burial of a COVID-19 patient

1. In case of patients belonging to the Hindu community, pradakshinas over the pyre is allowed only by keeping 4 metres of social distancing, and lighting of the pyre needs to be done with a three metre long stick. No more than five members are allowed to take part in the ritual.

2. In case of patients belonging to the Christian community, the grave needs to be at least 10 feet deep, to be sprayed with Sodium Hypochlorite (1 %). Only five members are allowed to witness the last rites.

3.The handlers of the body also needs to take care of subsequent sanitisation with liquid soap, sanitiser and Sodium Hypochlorite (1%)

4. The body also needs to be covered with a plastic sheet, keeping the face visible, and placed in a leak proof zip bag, with a transparent section to view the face. The body needs to be handled by four designated handlers only.

5. In the case of COVID-19 patients, family members of not more than three persons are allowed to see the body in the hospital through the protected glass window. They are not allowed to enter the mortuary or come into contact with the deceased person, according to the guidelines issued by the government of Telangana.