Up to 8 bodies processed in QC crematorium daily amid COVID-19 pandemic

Up to eight bodies are being processed every day at Baesa Crematorium in Quezon City amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to Atom Araullo’s “Nang Tumigil Ang Mundo” documentary, some of the dead bodies that have been brought to the crematorium have not been tested for COVID-19.

Paolo Hipolito, the crematorium’s officer in charge, said he and his employees did not know if the bodies they processed carried the disease or not.

“May mga tao bang na hindi nate-test,” he explained. “Meron may relative na nagsasabi na suspected pero hindi na sila nakapag-avail ng testing.”

He also shared that despite the protective gear they wore all day, they continued to fear for their own safety.

“Hindi natin masasabi kasi hindi natin nakikita kalaban natin. Itong trabaho namin, kailangan panindigan para makatulong din po,” he said.

Because of the surge in the number of remains to be processed daily, the crematorium had also been running out of urns, said Alfredo Manolo, whose father died of pneumonia. 

“Maghahanap na lang ng kahit ano na malalagyan niya. Doon muna siya,” Alfredo said.  

According to the records of the Quezon City Civil Registry, Baesa Crematorium has cremated over 254 individuals from March 25 to May 5.

Out of those people, only 17 tested positive for COVID-19, while 162 were only suspected cases. – RC, GMA News