A review of the management and safe handling of bodies in cases involving COVID-19.
Med Sci Law
; 60(4): 287-293, 2020 Oct.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-719515
ABSTRACT
Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, China, reported a cluster of cases of 'pneumonia of unknown aetiology' in Wuhan, Hubei province in late 2019. The causative organism was eventually identified as a novel coronavirus. Subsequently, the disease spread to more provinces in China, then the rest of the world, and the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. The virus was named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease was termed COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease). Since then, an increasing number of people have succumbed to this infectious disease. High contagiousness and rapid spread of the disease has been a matter of concern, as it may overburden healthcare systems. Hence, it is vital to implement strict infection prevention and control measures to curb the spread of the disease. This article reviews the guidelines available for the handling of bodies of deceased persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, and for their safe disposal. It also provides a summary of recommendations for conducting autopsies in cases where COVID-19 is suspected.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Mortuary Practice
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Etiology study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Med Sci Law
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
0025802420949044
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