The pending test reports of the COVID19 swabs, is not only a cause of concern for spread of disease but is also causing an emotional trauma to the kin of the dead.
Relatives of the dead patients are finding it difficult at various State government hospitals to get possession of the body as the authorities are awaiting tests.
Sources informed Goemkarponn.com that there were several cases wherein the body is delayed as reports have been pending.
A senior doctor told this website that the SOPs from Ministry of health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), are already in place in such matters.
“The guidelines clearly state that body should be handed over to kin and asked to be cremated with full protection assuming it is COVID patient body, but despite this the delays are still happening in handing over bodies,” the doctors said.
A kin told this website that he made several request to the authorities but they did not pay any heed.
Goemkarponn.com is in possession of the circular issued by Dr Rajiv Garg, of MoHFW , on July 1, 2020, which is clear on action needs to be taken for suspected COVID deaths.
“Please refer to issue raised regarding deaths of suspect COVID patients and dead bodies not being handed over to the relatives pending confirmation of test report by the hospitals. I would like to clarify that the dead bodies of such suspected COVID cases should be handed over to their relatives immediately and laboratory confirmation of COVID should not be awaited,” the circular says.
Further, it says, “These bodies as a matter of abundant precaution be deposited as per the “Guidelines on dead body management” available on the website of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare dated 15/03/2020 which directs that handlers in PPW accompany the body for final rites,” it says.
Also, the circular reads, if such dead bodies test positive eventually, then the requisite action for contact listing, tracking etc, should be carried out subsequently.
