COVID-19: State govt bans taking samples from dead body, suspects to be cremated as per protocol

Bengaluru: A day after the state government revised its lab testing protocol, Health Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey informed that there is no need to do a COVID-19 test after death.

Speaking with this regard Pankaj Kumar Pandey said, “Drawing of swabs from dead people has been banned. Yesterday, the union health secretary was clear on that. But the cremation of a person who is a COVID-19 suspect remains the same, no change.”

A source from the health department said that there might be slight under-reporting with removal of this category but even ICMR testing protocol does not include testing suspected deaths. Karnataka was doing it on its volition earlier until it decided to drop it.

The State government’s decision comes after Delhi Health Secretary’s order that the Union Territory will no longer take samples after death even if the person is suspected to have died of coronavirus. However, those suspected to have died of coronavirus have to be buried or cremated as per ICMR protocols.