NNN| July 14: Health authorities in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Tuesday collected a swab sample of a 40-year-old man who died at a quarantine centre. He was lodging in the quarantine centre along with his wife after returning from Assam.
An official source said that the 40-year-old man breathed his last at Nambol Higher Secondary School Community Quarantine Centre of the district.
He returned from Assam by a flight on Monday. He died on Monday night, around 11.18 pm.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Bishnupur district, Dr L Gojendra said that his swab sample was collected for COVID-19 test. The CMO, however, added that the man was under treatment for multiple viral infections since September 2013 in Guwahati and he had multiple organ failures because of his prolonged diseases. Considering his very poor health condition, district surveillance officer Dr L Raichandra and medical officer of Nambol CHC Dr L Kuber took care of the patient till late at night, he added.
Pending the test result of COVID-19, with all necessary precautionary measures of handling a dead body in a time such as this, it has been handed over to the family for performing his last rites, the CMO further said. The body was wrapped, disinfected and was taken to a crematorium in an ambulance, he added.
The CMO, in a press release stated that “COVID-19 is also spread by droplets from cough and sneeze of an infected person. There is very little risk of spreading from a dead body.” The press note further stated, “Inspite of the fact that he was not yet declared positive for COVID-19, all due care is being taken to protect the family members and the community because of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.”
However, as a precautionary measure, all the close contacts of the deceased man were kept in a community quarantine centre.
If the sample of the deceased or his wife who accompanied him is tested positive for COVID-19, all the close contacts with them will be tested for COVID-19, the press release added.