It is reported that the bodies of the deceased at the Colombo National Hospital morgue have piled up beyond storage capacity. The main reason for this is that a large number of Covid infected bodies have not been claimed and due to a PCR test being mandatory on those dead to determine whether the person had contracted Covid.
Hospital sources say that bodies have been piled up as it takes a few days for the results of a PCR examination to be released.
Normally 22 bodies could be stored in the morgue refrigerators of the National Hospital but it is reported that 42 bodies have been piled up so far. However, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, the Chief of the Epidemiology Unit, told the media that the bodies had been stored in a manner so that the disease would not spread in any way.
The Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena stated that the President has therefore instructed that the last rites for the bodies of Covid infected persons whose families cannot afford the expenses be carried out at the expense of the Government.
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