Anthony Iwuoma
The Lagos State Government has clarified the controversy over release of bodies of Coronavirus victims to relatives.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, made the clarification while giving an update on the state government’s efforts to stemming further spread of the virus.
He also hinted that the state government was about to come out with a policy on the use of facemasks, as it had commenced its mass production locally.
Prof. Abayimi said, “There are no existing laws that empowered us to deny the families of deceased bodies.
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“The protocol for managing death from COVID-19 is that the body is decontaminated, and then placed in special body bags; sometimes you can double it then place it in a casket.
“And the coffin is sealed. Then the family will be allowed to come and collect the body and take him for burial.
“The only issue is that about the existing laws, the burial will have no more than 25 people, including the grave-diggers in attendance. So, there is no current law that allows us to deny relatives the body of the person that died of COVID-19.
“It is just to be done in a procedure that doesn’t expose family members and relatives to danger.”
