Punjab govt eases SOPs for COVID-19 funerals

LAHORE: The Punjab government has announced a relaxation in the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the funerals of coronavirus patients, making it easier for relatives of the deceased to take part in the burial process. 

A meeting of the Anti-Coronavirus Cabinet Committee was held presided over by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Bazdar in which approval was given to review the SOPs for the burial of coronavirus patients.

It was decided to allow heirs to attend the funerals and perform the burial of the COVID-19 patients. The SOPs have been relaxed to the extent that relatives of the deceased can now see his/her face but not come near it or touch it. 

Relatives have been allowed to wrap the body up in plastic for the funeral process and a coffin to place the body in is no longer necessary, as per the new SOPs.

Rules issued by health ministry for the burial of coronavirus infected patients

Last month, the ministry of health had issued a revised document to ensure precautionary measures are followed while handling the bodies of suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus.

The federal government's document aimed to "provide management guidelines to the families, healthcare providers, managers of health facilities and mortuaries, religious and public health authorities, and to all those who attend to the dead bodies of individuals suspected or confirmed for COVID-19".

Also read: Health ministry issues new rules for burial of bodies infected with coronavirus

The directives covered the entire process — from the beginning when a body is prepared to be transferred from hospitals and medical centres for the autopsy process [which according to the document should be conducted under engineered and controlled environment] to the burial and funeral rituals.

Burial, the document added, "should be managed by the authorities on a case-by-case basis, balancing the rights of the family, the risks of exposure to infection and the need of investigation the death cause".

'Other directives issued during the meeting'

Additionally, the chief minister has also ordered to continue crackdown on those who stockpile Actemra injections and other essential drugs during the coronavirus crisis.

The minister further said that cattle markets would not be set up in the city limits on the account of Eid-ul-Azha and a final plan should be presented to seal some areas of Lahore to stem the disease from spreading. 

"The capacity of coronavirus tests in Punjab has increased to 12,000 on a daily basis though the number of confirmed patients has declined in three days," he added.