Odisha amends guidelines on disposal of bodies of persons with COVID-19 symptoms

Bhubaneswar: While making an amendment to its earlier guidelines, the Odisha government today directed officials to dispose the bodies of persons with COVID-19 symptoms under treatment or quarantine as per the COVID norms even if their swab could not be collected for tests.

In a letter, Additional Chief Secretary of Health Department PK Mohapatra asked the District Collectors, SPs, Municipal Commissioners and Health officials to dispose the dead body of persons with COVID-19 symptoms as per COVID norms in compassionate consultation with the family of the deceased without insisting on testing of swab or waiting for result.

“This will reduce the trauma face by the grieving family as there will be no delay in disposal of the body of the deceased after death,” the letter read.

On July 25, the government had issued guidelines for disposal of dead body of the suspect or confirmed cases of COVID-19.