Ogun reacts to evacuation of COVID-19 victim's corpse

Dr Tomi Coker 

Ogun State Ministry of Health has reacted to the video circulating in the social media about the evacuation of the corpse claimed to be a Covid-19 victim, which was dropped at Kuto, Abeokuta. by a driver on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, the state public health officials who carried out the evacuation are trained and appropriately kitted in line with the infection prevention and control guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Nigeria Center for Disease Control ( NCDC) on Covid-19. 

Dr Coker said WHO and NCDC recommend the use of double hand gloves and N-95 face masks as the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), if there is any suspected case, and these were strictly adhered to in this case.

She disclosed that swab was taken  from the corpse and his companion, who was seen with him in the video which  has since been sent to the laboratory to ascertain if the cause of death is  Covid-19.

The commissioner said in addition, the companion was immediately isolated until results become available in the next 24 hours.

She said further: "It should be noted that the dead body of a Covid-19 victim is not readily infectious since the corpse lungs were not functional at the time of this interaction,.

"The commonest route of transmission is through droplets emanating from the breathe of a live suspect case via sneezing, coughing or talking asides contamination through surfaces.

"We would like to reiterate that the Ogun State Healthcare workers are trained to work in  accordance with global best practices and will never compromise the stipulated standard.

"It is worth mentioning that the safety and well being of the people of Ogun State is paramount to the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration", Dr Coker concluded.