Mortuaries following strict guidelines in handling COVID-19 dead

─ to minimise risk of COVID-19 spread

DPI, Guyana, Monday, April 13, 2020

The Public Health Ministry is working closely with mortuaries across Guyana to ensure all necessary precautions are maintained while dealing with those bodies of persons who have succumbed to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

This was disclosed by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Shamdeo Persaud during NCN’s televised programme COVID-19 Conversations.

“They have been following the guidelines that we have established for safe handling and disposal of those persons who may have succumbed from COVID-19,” Dr. Persaud said.

The CMO also said the Ministry has advised that during this period of the pandemic that mortuaries utilise the guidelines when handling all bodies.

“There might be a death suspicious of the Coronavirus but there was no testing done or no confirmation of the case. However, we still advise of careful handling to reduce as much as possible the risk of those handling those bodies,” the CMO added.

To date, Guyana has recorded 6 deaths while its confirmed cases stand at 45.

With the death toll from the Novel Coronavirus projected at some 20,000 in Guyana, the authorities have implemented emergency orders to stop the spread of the virus,

Citizens are daily urged to adhere to the 6pm to 6am curfew and the numerous health advisories published.