What to do in case of a Covid death

The Telegraph draws up a set of FAQs on the basis of the circular and interactions with officials of the CMC

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TT Bureau   |   Calcutta   | 25.04.21 : The death of a Covid-19 victim at home is unlocking a vault of miseries for family members. Getting the death certificate and arranging for a hearse is often taking hours because of the curbs imposed by the government.

In many cases, more than one family member is affected by the virus, making things more difficult.

The agencies involved in arranging the funeral are often taking a lot of time to reach the home of a deceased person because they are overburdened with the steep rise in the number of deaths.

The state health department on Saturday issued a circular containing “guidelines on issuance of death certificates and funeral related activities in non-institutional deaths and deaths occurring during inter-institutional transit due to Covid-19”.

“We have arranged for many hearse vans. But this is an unprecedented situation. We request people not to panic and contact us,” said a senior official of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation. 

The Telegraph draws up a set of FAQs on the basis of the circular and interactions with officials of the CMC.

A member in my family who had tested positive for Covid-19 passes away at home. How do I get a death certificate?

The registered medical practitioner under whose treatment the person was before the death, either in physical or virtual mode, can issue the death certificate.

What if the doctor cannot be contacted?

Contact the local police station. The police will arrange for the body to be taken to the nearest government hospital and arrange for the death certificate, said a CMC official.

What if the person dies while being shifted from one hospital to another?

“If a person admitted in the Covid/pre-Covid/Sari (severe acute respiratory infections) ward of a hospital dies during transit while being referred to another hospital, the last treating doctor of the referring hospital will issue the death certificate accordingly,” the circular said.

After getting the death certificate, how do I arrange for the cremation?

Calcuttans should call the chief municipal health officer at 9830011041. They can also send a WhatsApp message to the number along with the following documents.

⚫Death certificate

⚫Covid-positive report

⚫No objection from next of kin

⚫A small note with details — name, age, address of the deceased and a request for arranging the cremation

A hearse van should reach the deceased person’s home and take the body away for cremation.

Can a family member of a deceased person go to the crematorium?

A CMC official said “two family members are allowed to visit the crematorium to see the funeral from a distance”.

Mask is must

A policeman stops a cyclist without a mask at the Exide crossing on Saturday evening. The cyclist was not carrying a mask. The cop then asked him to take off his shirt and cover his face with it

The cyclist pleads with the cop and says he won’t step out without a mask again

The policeman then hands him a mask

The cyclist puts on the mask and is let off with a warning.

Pictures by Sanat Kr Sinha