Releasing bodies without COVID-19 tests poses risk: IMA Thane

Thane, May 6 () The Indian Medical Association'sThane chapter on Wednesday objected to bodies of deceasedpersons being released from hospitals without COVID-19 testsand suggested that all funerals be held with only five peoplein attendance.

Several mourners attend funerals of people who havedied of other ailments and hospitals have been releasingbodies without conducting COVID-19 tests on them, posing agreat health risk, president of IMA Thane Dr Dinkar Desaistated in a release.

There have been cases in Maharashtra's Thane city,where deceased persons have tested positive for the virus andthe administration had to track down mourners and other high-risk contacts in such cases, he said.

At least for the next couple of months, funeralsshould be held in the presence of the police, with not morethan five people in attendance, Dr Desai suggested.

In a related development, a medical officer at theCSMG Civic Hospital in Kalwa town tested positive for COVID-19, an official said.

All those who had come in contact with the person havebeen quarantined, he said.

At least 43 persons tested positive for COVID-19 inThane district on Tuesday, taking the tally here to 452 cases,including 17 deaths.

Meanwhile, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation isfast approaching 400 cases, while the count in Palghardistrict is nearing 200. CORARU ARU