(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –There is no truth in the media reports that Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control, has appointed an expert committee to recommend cremation or burial of COVID-19 infected bodies as reported by some electronic and web media, the State Ministry asserted.
The State Minister pointed out that in controlling COVID-19, solutions should always be sought from a scientific methodology and decisions should never be taken on the basis of religion, race, politics, social ideology or superstition and it is appropriate to make decisions based on facts that have been established in dealing with viral diseases. .
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a series of guidelines on how to handle the bodies of people died due to COVID-19, and early medical expert opinions on COVID-19 may vary from time to time, depending on the behavior of the virus, the Minister explained.
Although the Minister has instructed virologists and medical experts to study such situations and submit their expert opinions to her, the Minister further stated that no other committee has been appointed by her to make recommendations regarding the cremation or burial of COVID-19 infected bodies.
