Coronavirus dead bodies cannot be released to families, it’s a national security issue - AMA

Florence S. Kuukyi, Director, Metro Public Health Department, Accra Metropolitan Assembly has stated that Covid-19 is an infectious disease and persons who die from it cannot be handed over to the families for burial.

She said the health directorate is mandated to organize burial ceremonies at the infectious disease cemetery for persons who die from the deadly virus.

Appearing on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5fm, she explained that the COVID-19 pandemic is a national security issue, and as part of efforts to contain the virus, the bodies are buried under strict supervision by the Environmental Health Workers.

She revealed no Covid-19 bodies are released to bereaved families even in advanced countries.

She said Ghana has been lenient enough to allow a few family members to witness the burial, and that should be befitting enough.

According to her, "some of the bereaved family members try to assault the environmental health workers for doing their job."

She added that as environmental heal workers, they are equally at risk just like other frontline health workers.

Meanwhile, she has encouraged Ghanaians not to treat the virus as a joke because it is deadly, thus we have to keep practising the safety protocols to help prevent the spread.

To her, the virus is not an experience you would want to wish for your enemy, and if not treated early, you could die.