THE Department of Health (DOH) Davao said a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patient who will die due to the infectious disease has to be buried or cremated within 12 hours.
DOH-Davao director Dr. Annabelle Yumang said in a virtual presser Wednesday, March 25, that since Covid-19 is a highly infectious disease and in order to prevent contamination, the dead body must be buried immediately or cremated.
Families of the victim are not allowed to go near the victim unless the dead body is already inside the coffin or has been cremated.
Yumang emphasized that the coffin for a Covid-19-positive fatality will not be the regular coffin offered by funerals.
From the hospital, the cadaver must be properly sealed in a leak-proof bag and placed in a metal casket which should be airtight to prevent contamination.
Earlier, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the City Government of Davao has prepared a mass burial site in Tagakpan, Davao City in case the health crisis worsens.
In Davao Region, there are a total of six patients positive for coronavirus. Five of them are admitted in two state-run hospitals, namely Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City.
The first confirmed case in Davao, a 21-year-old Filipina, has since recovered and has already been discharged from the hospital.
Yumang did not give details on the condition of the five remaining patients who are in the hospitals.
Meanwhile, DOH Davao reported that as of Wednesday, nine patients under investigation (PUIs) have died. Four of which tested negative while the result of the remaining five has yet to be released.