Circular on burial of COVID-19 victims issued

The circular containing the guidelines with regard to the burial of COVID-19 victims has been issued, the Health Ministry said.

Some key guidelines are as follows,

• The relatives of the deceased should inform the Director/ Head of the health care institution (Where the death has occurred) of their desire to bury the corpse without delay.
• The Director of the hospital/ Head of the health care institution should obtain a written request from relatives for burial.
• The relatives need to provide a coffin in advance.
• It is the duty of the director/ Head of health care institution to transport the corpse in a coffin provided by the relatives to a designated location in Colombo Institute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (office of JMO) / BH Welikanda where the corpse will be received by the designated officer.
• The vehicle transporting the corpse to “Nachchikuda pier” will leave daily at 5.30 a.m. from the designated receiving center nominated by the DGHS.
• Corpse carried by authorized officers will be handed over to the respective authority at the “Nachchikuda pier” which is supervised by the area MOH representative PHI.
• Burial will take place by the facilitation and coordination of the Police/Security personnel at an Island earmarked by the Government of Sri Lanka in the presence of relatives, MOH his representative PHI of the area of burial.
• Religious activities are permitted only at hospital.
• The relatives or unauthorized persons are not permitted to obtain photographs, video and video calls in the health care institution/s.
• Only two relatives are permitted to be present at the burial.