9 Bodies In The Field Transferred By Family From COVID-19 Cemetery

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - As many as nine bodies that were previously buried in the special COVID-19 area in Bungus Teluk Kabung, Padang, West Sumatra, were removed at the request of the family.

"Of the nine bodies that were transferred, only two were positive for COVID-19, seven had negative swab test results, the bodies were removed at the request of the family," said Head of the Environment Office of the City of Padang Mairizon in Padang, reported by Antara, Wednesday, November 4.

According to him, if there are families who want their relatives' bodies to be moved, the first condition is the time for burial with at least 48 days of demolition and still in procedure by implementing the COVID protocol.

"The reason must be 48 days so that the spread of the virus can be reduced, but the bodies with negative swab tests can be dismantled and moved at any time," he said.

For the transfer process because the body is in a crate, it is the case that is lifted and the officer who unloads it using complete PPE.

He said that up to now 172 bodies of COVID-19 patients have been buried in Bungus Cemetery.

He explained that for the funeral of the bodies of COVID-19 patients, the city government provided two options, namely in a special cemetery in Bungus or on land provided by the family.

Mairizon said that previously there was an incident of refusing the funeral of a resident in Pegambiran, Lubuk Begalung District because local residents felt uncomfortable, so they were eventually transferred to Bungus.

"The reason for the rejection was too emotional, finally it was dismantled and we suggested that it should be buried in Bungus cemetery," he said.

Regarding the funeral process, he said that after the patient died, the Health Service would notify him so that the team from the Environmental Service immediately went to the burial location where the hole had been prepared.

Officers have been wearing complete PPE, the bodies were held in the hospital starting from bathing, forgiving to praying and putting them in coffins.

Then the DLH officer waited for the body at the cemetery and carried out the burial process with complete PPE and after that all the PPE was burned.

"It is advisable for the public and families not to approach the funeral because they are afraid there will be problems," he said.

With regard to corpses from outside Padang, the city government allows burial in Bungus, but the costs are borne by the heirs, but if the Padang residents are borne by the City Government.

He said that the cost of burying one body was Rp. 250 thousand per officer, done by 12 team members, bringing the total to Rp. 3 million.