Health Ministry issues new regulations on cremating COVID-19 infected corpses
April 12, 2020- Corpse should be cremated at 800 to 1,200 degrees Celsius for 45minutes to one hour
- Cremations should only be handled by persons nominated by a proper authority
- All protective gears used for handling the cremation should be incinerated with the coffin
The corpse of COVID infected person should be cremated at the temperature of 800 to 1,200 degrees Celsius for a minimum period of forty-five minutes to one hour for a complete burning, the Health Ministry said.
Issuing an extraordinary Gazette notification signed by Health Minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, has announced new regulations with regards to cremation of a corpse of a person who has died of COVID-19.
Under new regulations, corpse of a person who died is suspected to have died of the virus has to create following the same procedure.
The regulations are implemented by the Health Minister under the Section two and three of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance No.03 of 1897.
According to new regulations on cremating a corpse of a COVID-19 infected person, the cremation should be done at a cemetery or place approved by the proper authority under the supervision of such authority in accordance with the directions issued by the Director General of Health Services.
It further states that no person shall handover the corpse of a person who has died or is suspected to have died of COVID-19 to any person except to persons who undertake the necessary duties of cremation, nominated by the proper authority.
According to health Ministry, these procedure need to be strictly followed to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19.
The extraordinary gazette notification has also spelt out the attire and the non-reusable personal protective equipment used by persons who handle the corpse at such a cemetery or place, has stated that those cloths and protective gears should be incinerated by placing them with the coffin during cremation.
Under new regulations the reusable equipment should properly decontaminated and disinfected in accordance with the directions issued by the Director General of Health Services.
It states the ashes of the corpse may be handed over to the next of kin if the next of kin requested.
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