Kerala has reached 39,708 total confirmed COVID-19 cases with 139 deaths as on August 13, 2020. In most Covid-19 deaths, family members of the deceased usually go to take part in the last rites by donning the personal protection (PPE) kits but in situations, where such families are reluctant or absent, health workers and those employed by the local bodies step in to do the last rites. 

India’s first COVID-19 case was detected in Kerala on January 30, but the State machinery has proactively contained the situation to curb the spread. The situation once again turned critical as the number of cases has spiked due to community transmission.

With spiking cases and gradual deaths, a lot of health workers are getting infected and sent for quarantine. The shortage of people has created a serious situation for disposing of the dead bodies. Diocesan Social Service Societies of Kerala with Caritas Samaritans Volunteers team step in this critical situation to support the administration.  

Caritas Samaritan Volunteers perform the last rites of people dying due to Covid-19 irrespective of their caste and religion. The group volunteers with the support of priests offer their burial or cremation service for the Covid-19 victims in the diocese. These volunteers got trained by the Doctors, Health Department officials under the guidance of District Administration. 

The funerals irrespective of Hindu, Christian or Muslim faith, are undertaken by the local health departments usually in the presence of Health Inspector. The process involves identifying the final resting place, bringing the body by ambulance from the hospital to the crematorium or graveyard, performing the final rites in the presence of the priest and then cremating or burying according to the protocol. 

Almost all the DSSS partners in Kerala formed the volunteer team of Samaritans and organizing training for this special task. Around 3500 volunteers across Kerala got trained for the burial of COVID-19 patients. Around 4 DSSS Partners in Kerala provided funeral services to COVID-19 patients. WSE, Ernakulam, SAFI, Irinjalakuda, ADS, Alleppey, Santhwanam, Thrissur are those DSSS partners. Fr Joseph Koluthuvellil, Director of Sahrudaya Welfare Services (WSE) said that the “Volunteers will follow all Covid-19 protocols. Doctors with the health department have imparted online training to these volunteers. They trained the volunteers on how to bury bodies following Covid-19 protocols. We have also video graphed the entire session so that we will be able to train others who are yet to join as volunteers”. “There is a dearth of volunteers for disposing of bodies of Covid-19 victims in certain areas.

The decision of all such groups to volunteer for the cause is a welcome move,” said PS Sreenivasan, district health officer, Ernakulam who is also the nodal officer for disposal of bodies of Covid-19 victims.