Funeral parlours in Zimbabwe have been directed to treat all dead bodies as Covid-19 contaminated and the protective measures are supposed to be observed during contact with the dead body. Bus services have been suspended and refunds will be made to affected customers.
Nyaradzo Funeral Services its stakeholders through a circular:
MEMORANDUM
TO : EVERYONE FROM : GENERAL MANAGER – SERVICES DATE 30 MARCH SUBJECT: COVID-19 – SOP FOR REMOVALS AS GUIDED BY MoHCC
Reference is made to the above and the meetings held today between funeral service providers under ZAFA and the Ministry Of Health And Childcare. The following was discussed and agreed:
I. The bus for mourners is suspended with immediate effect in line with the government position on health and safety measures especially the social distance concept. This position on buses is also agreed by the market and is supported by IPEC. Clients to be paid cash-in-lieu of bus service via Ecocash or bank transfer
2. All bodies to be treat as COVID-19 contaminated except RTA and homicide which may he treated as special cases. As such we must strictly adhere to PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) guidelines.
3. No removals ate to be done from home or any other place until there is an opinion on the cause of death by a medical practitioner. This therefore means we must notify health officials before doing any removals from home. The police has been informed of this position as they are the custodian of all sudden death bodies.
4. Bodies can only he removed from hospital when there is a BD11/BD12 establishing the cause and manner of death.
5. All burials should be done within 24 hours and encouragement should be done for local burials to limit distance travelled.
6. All confirmed COVID-I9 cases to get state supervised burials.