This is the notable content issued by the Ministry of Health in Official Dispatch 4193/BYT-MT in 2020 regarding the organization of funeral activities to ensure COVID-19 prevention and control.
Article table of contents
Ministry of Health requires no funerals to be held in quarantine areas as of August 5 (Illustrative image)
Official Dispatch 4193/BYT-MT clearly states that, as the COVID-19 pandemic is currently having complex developments in many localities, in order to strengthen the prevention and control of COVID-19 in funeral activities under the current situation, the Ministry of Health requests the Health Departments of provinces and centrally run cities to implement the following contents:
First, organize, inspect, and supervise the implementation of guidelines from the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and the Ministry of Health, including:
- Decision 2232/QD-BCDQG dated May 29, 2020 of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control issuing Guidelines on COVID-19 Prevention and Control at funerals;
- Decision 2233/QD-BCDQG dated May 29, 2020 of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control issuing Guidelines on handling corpses of those deceased due to acute respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus in the community;
- Decision 468/QD-BYT of the Ministry of Health dated February 19, 2020 on issuing guidelines and controlling infections of 2019 Corona virus acute respiratory disease (COVID-19) in healthcare facilities, which includes guidelines on handling corpses of those infected or suspected to be infected with COVID-19.
Second, for cases of death due to other reasons, not infected with COVID-19 (negative Realtime PCR test result with SARS-CoV-2) at healthcare facilities or residential areas under quarantine for COVID-19 prevention and control, it is requested to:
- Implement funeral activities as for those who died due to ordinary reasons as stipulated in Circular 02/2009/TT-BYT dated May 26, 2009 of the Ministry of Health on Guidelines for hygiene in funeral activities and Decision 2232/QD-BCDQG dated May 29, 2020 of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control issuing Guidelines on COVID-19 Prevention and Control at funerals.
- No funerals are to be held in quarantine areas. People in quarantine areas are not allowed to leave the quarantine area to attend funerals.
Details can be found in Official Dispatch 4193/BYT-MT, issued on August 5, 2020.
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