Can Covid-19 Infected Corpses Spread? Check Out the Review

Kapanlagi.com - Recently, there have been protests from the public regarding the burial of Covid-19 infected corpses. Some members of the public strongly refuse if their area is used for the burial of Covid-19 infected corpses. In fact, many of them held demonstrations on the streets to block ambulances carrying the corpses.

In fact, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a lot of anxiety and excessive panic among many people. Not only that, some residents are also worried that the corpses can transmit the virus to the surrounding residents.

Therefore, the rejection of funeral actions has been widely discussed and reported. This action has also become rampant in several regions. Then, the question is, can Covid-19 infected corpses spread? Let's check out the following review:

1. According to Experts

According to a researcher in the field of Microbiology at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Sugiyono, the risk of transmission arises when the body has not been buried. Once the body has been buried, there is no longer a risk of transmission.

Sugiyono also explained that the surrounding community of the burial site is not at risk of contracting the coronavirus from the body, as long as they do not have direct contact. The risk of transmission is actually to those who have direct contact with the body.

In addition, he also emphasized that infection transmission can occur during the bathing of the body. This can happen because a body infected with COVID-19 can release fluids from the mouth or anus during bathing, which can transmit the virus to others. Therefore, it is better not to bathe the body.

A similar statement was also issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding safety procedures for people who have died from COVID-19. WHO explains that if someone dies from COVID-19, the lungs and other organs may still contain live virus. Additionally, the COVID-19 virus can remain infectious on surfaces for up to 9 days.

2. Body Wrapping Protocol

(credit: merdeka.com/ArieBasuki)

The body wrapping protocol has several stages that must be applied to COVID-19 infected bodies as follows:

-First, the body is purified by performing tayammum.

-Second, the COVID-19 body is wrapped in plastic.

-Third, the COVID-19 body is wrapped in a burial shroud.

-Fourth, after being wrapped in a burial shroud, the body is wrapped again in plastic.

-Fifth, then the body is wrapped again in a body bag.

-Sixth, after all of this is done, the body is placed in a coffin.

In addition, each layer used to wrap the body undergoes decontamination. Therefore, the wrapped body is not allowed to be reopened. In carrying out this protocol, the personnel and managers handling the body are required to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and disinfectants.

3. Safe After Burial

It is advisable to bury a COVID-19 corpse after four hours of death. Additionally, during the burial process, it is recommended to minimize the use of transportation, enclosed spaces, and contact with the environment.

It is important to emphasize that if the burial method is carried out according to these steps, local residents do not need to worry about the COVID-19 corpse transmitting the virus, as long as there is no direct contact. Secondly, the organism cannot survive for long after burial. Therefore, there is no reason for the surrounding residents to refuse the burial of a COVID-19 corpse.

(kpl/dtm/gen)