COVID-19: No policy banning release of dead patients’ remains to family —Lagos Govt

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said on Sunday there was no policy that banned the release of the corpse of any dead COVID-19 patient to the family.

He also the burial protocol of any COVID-19-related death was to ensure the social distancing of people at the funeral.

Abayomi, who stated these during the COVID-19 update in Lagos, said that attendance must not exceed 25 people at such burial, including family members, clergy, grave diggers and pallbearers.

On the release of dead COVID-19 corpse, he said the protocol was to decontaminate the body before handing it over to the family.

The commissioner added that the body would be placed in two body bags after decontamination, and then placed into the coffin before handing over to the family for burial.

Abayomi said 23 new cases were confirmed on April 18, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in Lagos to 309.

He said that 94 of the cases had recovered and discharged, two evacuated, while three had been transferred to their state of residence in Ogun.

Abayomi told journalists the state recorded the death of an 83-year-old woman with underlying health issues, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Lagos to 14.

He, however, disclosed that only two of the 14 COVID-19 deaths recorded in the state died at the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba.

The commissioner said others died either on their way to the hospital or at private medical facilities.

He also clarified that the Onikan and Landmark Isolation Centres were private facilities being used for treating COVID-19 patients and managed by the state government.