COVID-19 in Delhi: Bodies to be sent to mortuaries within 2 hours

Bodies of persons who died of COVID-19 or suspected to have died of it at hospitals are to be sent to mortuaries within two hours, authorities said on Saturday. Delhi government's heath department anunced additional guidelines for disposal of bodies of patients who had COVID-19 or were suspected to be suffering from it. death toll from COVID-19 in Delhi on Saturday rose to 416.

Bodies of persons who died of COVID-19 or suspected to have died of it at hospitals, or those brought dead at hospitals are to be sent to mortuaries within two hours, order said. If family or relatives of deceased, mselves contact mortuary authorities within 12 hours of death, hospital shall schedule cremation or burial within 24 hours in consultation with family and area's municipal corporation, it added.

If family or relatives do t contact within 12 hours, an intimation be sent out to m informing about place and time of cremation or burial, authorities said. In case of unidentified or abandoned bodies of persons who died of COVID-19 or suspected to have died of it, Delhi police shall complete all legal formalities within 72 hours of death and dispose body in next 24 hours as per protocol, it said. If address of deceased happened to be outside Delhi, medical director of hospitals must send a tice to resident commissioner of respective state or Union territory, seeking communication from or side in 48 hours, according to order. If response is received, body is to be cremated by hospital in next 24 hours, it said.