JOHAN ORDONEZ / AFP
The advisory committee said there is no reported case of transmission from a dead body to a human, therefore, wrapped coffins are not needed.
JOHAN ORDONEZ / AFP
The Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 has recently dubbed the wrapping of coffins in plastic as unnecessary. Throughout the pandemic, many were seen wrapping coffins in plastic as a precautionary and safety measure in case the deceased was COVID-19 positive but now, the committee says it’s a step that can be skipped.
According to reports, the communication came after some citizens pointed out that the late Jackson Mthembu’s coffin was not wrapped in plastic.
According to the committee, the current World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance (September 2020) on burials reiterates the existing guidance and clarifies the previous recommendations (24 March 2020).
“To date, there is no reported case of SARS CoV 2 transmission from a dead body to a human. There is very little risk of infection being transmitted from a dead body to those carefully handling the corpse. The possibility of the virus escaping during pressure applied to the chest soon after death might expel live virus but this has not been proven,” it said.
When dealing with a dead body, all handlers must ensure that IPC precautions are in place such as wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Hand hygiene, good ventilation and a clean environment is also essential.
“The wrapping of bodies and coffins in plastic coverings prior to burial is unnecessary,” it said.
The committee said transmission at funerals occurs amongst the living due to overcrowding, lack of social distancing and wearing of masks, carrying out hand hygiene and good ventilation.
“WHO recommends the use of body bags to transfer the corpse from the hospital bed to the mortuary or funeral parlour for preparation,” it added.
The committee has put forward the following guidelines with regards to the handling of corpses: