The body of the victim can be taken home for the last rites of KPK

The body of the victim can be taken home for the last rites of KPK

The body of the victim can be taken home for the last rites of KPK
PESHAWAR – The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has allowed people to take bodies of coronavirus victims home for the observance of last rites — the bath and prayer before burial — but under strictly defined guidelines.

The provincial health department said no case of transmission of the disease from a dead body has been reported anywhere in the world so far.

According to the department, the decision was made keeping in mind that the provincial government has already issued necessary guidelines for relatives of the deceased persons on taking the body home.

Guidelines

•  Relatives would not touch the body without wearing gloves and masks.

• The body would be covered by either cloth coffin or plastic bags for burial.

• The relatives of deceased persons are allowed to bathe the body but after putting on gloves, masks and other protective wear.

•  The last sighting of the dead body is also allowed by the government but all the while maintaining social distancing.

• - Staff designated by the government would supervise the whole burial process as part of the precautionary measures.

Earlier, the deceased person's body was not allowed to be taken home and burial was also done in isolation by the designated staff of the government.

WHO guidelines

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has also issued guidelines to perform the burial of a coronavirus patient by taking necessary precautionary measures. 

• Before departure: Team formation and disinfection preparation.

• Assemble all necessary equipment.

• Arrive late at the patient's home: Prepare the store with your family and assess the risk.

•  Put on all personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Put your body in your body bag.

• Keep body bags in coffins were culturally appropriate.

•  Sanitise the family's environment.

• Eliminate PPE, dispose of waste, and keep your hands clean.

• Move the coffin or body pocket to the cemetery.

• Burial in the cemetery: Placing a coffin or body in the grave.

•  Burial at the cemetery: engaging community for prayers to dissipates tensions and provide respectful time.

•  Return to the hospital or team headquarters.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has so far recorded the highest number of fatalities from COVID-19, a total of 194, with 3,499 cases and 875 recoveries.

( Hamari News )