QC crematorium rehearses procedures for COVID-19 fatalities

Employees of a crematorium in Quezon City were taught to wear personal protective equipment in preparation for the management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) fatalities.

According to Saleema Refran's Tuesday report on 24 Oras, only indigent COVID-19 patients and persons under investigation would be cremated in the city-owned Baesa Crematorium.

The extra protective gear was not expected to hamper procedures as the bodies would not be embalmed.

Based on protocols, the body would be covered and sanitized. Cremation would take place within 12 hours after death.

"Pagka-infectious disease sa Pilipinas under our sanitization code so diretsyo na talaga sila for burial. It's either you cremate or you bury them right away," Rolly Cruz, the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit chief, said.

"Definitely ia-adopt namin 'yung protocol set by the Department of Health. Syempre contagious 'yung disease ito, kailangan 'yung proper handling ng mga patay," QC Civil Registrar Salvador Carino Jr. added.

There were 62 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city and 6 recorded fatalities.

The nation-wide tally had meanwhile climbed to 552 with 35 deaths and 20 recoveries. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News