Crematoriums glutted, COVID-19 dead can now be buried —Vergeire

The remains of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) dead can now be buried provided that proper measures are in place, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Saturday.

"'Yung ating sanitation code sinasabi diyan na dapat kapag ikaw ay namatay from any infectious disease... within 12 hours you're supposed to be cremated," Vergeire said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"Kaya lang naiintindihan po natin ang estado ng ating mga facility sa ngayon kaya nga po pinapayagan na rin natin na ilibing pero may mga kondisyon pa rin," she added.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, crematoriums process up to eight bodies daily. Due to the increased demand, a crematorium in Quezon City previously run out of urns for the dead.

According to Vergeire, the remains cannot be exhumed once buried.

"Kailangan double-sealed 'yung bag, kailangan 'yung casket adequately sealed din 'yan at kailangan kapag isinara na natin at na-seal na ang ating individuals, hindi na 'yan puwedeng buksan kahit kailan," she said.

"At kapag nilibing, hindi puwedeng kahit kailan i-exhume o hukayin," she added.

The Philippines has reported a total of 52,914 COVID-19 cases with 13,320 recoveries and 1,360 fatalities. —LBG, GMA News