Dead body management amidst global pandemic of Covid-19

Med Leg J. 2020 Jul;88(2):80-83. doi: 10.1177/0025817220926930. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Abstract

Covid-19 has reached almost all the nations in the world. More and more people are dying from it and in some countries, even the army has been called upon to help dispose of the dead as there is a shortage of coffins, and undertakers are overwhelmed. Therefore, it is essential to have measures in place to contain the spread of infection while handling dead bodies. In view of this, different guidelines and protocols have been proposed bearing in mind the limited information we have about the virus. This review article sets them out for better reference.

Keywords: Covid-19; Pandemic; dead body management; disinfectant; personal protective equipment; sodium hypochlorite.

MeSH terms

  • Autopsy
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Cadaver*
  • Communicable Disease Control
  • Coronavirus Infections / mortality*
  • Cremation
  • Forensic Medicine / methods*
  • Humans
  • Infection Control
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / prevention & control
  • Medical Waste Disposal
  • Mortuary Practice
  • Occupational Exposure / prevention & control
  • Pandemics
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Pneumonia, Viral / mortality*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • World Health Organization

Substances

  • Medical Waste Disposal