COVID-19: 16 out of 48 dead bodies buried in Accra

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has so far buried 16 persons who had died from COVID-19 in Accra with the youngest and the eldest being nine (9) and eighty-four (84) years old respectively.

Head of the Environmental Health Department of the AMA, Madam Florence Kuukyi who disclosed this said 27 families of the 48 persons who died from COVID-19 had registered with her outfit for the burial of their relatives out of which 16 bodies have so far been interred.

She pointed out that all burials undertaken so far were done per World Health Organization (WHO) standards and protocols adding that the bodies were buried at a designated site earmarked by the Assembly for the burial of persons who die of infectious diseases.

According to her, out of the number registered, 19 were Christians with the remaining 8 being Muslims.

She added that all the Christians were buried with coffins donated by the family members while the Muslims were buried with body bags.

She explained that all burials were done under the strict supervision of Environmental Health Officers from the Assembly adding that none of the bodies was viewed naked.

"It is the responsibility of the Environmental Health Officer to give persons who die of infectious diseases a befitting burial... In these cases, officers disinfect the bodies right from the mortuary to the cemetery to be laid to rest, " she said.

She also disclosed that none of the officers was infected with the virus and was hopeful that no one would contract the virus.

Florence Kuukyi appealed for more Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) as well as other logistics.