Funeral workers worry as mourners conceal Covid-19 status

 Deathcare industry players have expressed concern that their staff are at high risk of contracting Covid-19 as mourners conceal their Covid-19 status.

An official at Graceland Funeral Services who asked to be identified as Yap said some family members have been withholding information that they are close contacts of Covid-19 patients or have already tested positive for the disease.

He said they would only inform funeral workers only after the funeral has ended, which forced many workers to go for swab tests.

When staff members meet the deceased's family members to discuss funeral arrangements, they would often enter elevators together or had conversations. Hence, the staff are worried about getting infected.

“Some didn’t do that intentionally. Two or three days after the funeral, they told us that they have been infected and warned the staff members whom they have contacted.”

“But some didn’t tell us even if they were infected. They revealed they are confirmed cases before the end of the funeral.”

Hoping for one last goodbye

Yap speculated the reason behind such action is that the bereaved wished to be involved in the process of handling the funeral and hoping to see the deceased one more time.

However, this puts funeral parlours and their staff in a bind.

According to Yap, since most of the family members of the deceased would be close contacts, his staff would call and remind them not to be present if they are close contacts.

If all the deceased's relatives are under quarantine, funeral parlours would ask them to give the authorisation to handle the funeral.

Yet, most family members insisted on handling the process themselves, which puts staff at a greater risk of being infected.

He lamented this puts him under a lot of pressure and is not keen to handle such cases, yet as a funeral service provider, he has no choice but to accede to the family's demands.

No rest since April

Similarly, Nirvana Care general manager (sales and service) Teh Khai Lin said although staff members fear contracting the coronavirus, they still try their best to handle the bodies.

"We are both physically and mentally exhausted [...] but if not us, who will handle the bodies?

"Our staff are worried that they will transmit the virus to their family. Although they say it is okay, they are bearing a lot of stress," he said.

He added that his staff haven't got enough rest since last month due to the rise in Covid-19 deaths.

Coffins sealed and disinfected

Teh shared that once Covid-19 patients are sent to hospital, their family members would not be able to visit. Hence, they won't have the chance to see the deceased one last time before they pass away.

He said the identification of the body is restricted to one or two relatives, and even then, they have to maintain distance from the body.

“After identification, the coffin will be sealed. The body can't wear clothes, make-up, nothing,” he said.

The body will be placed in two layers of body bags, get disinfected, and put in a coffin that will be sealed with transparent plastic.

It will then be disinfected one more time before being transferred to a crematorium or cemetery.

"Upon arrival, the officer confirms everything is okay, and the body will be buried or cremated immediately," he said.

The funeral service can only be held after the body is buried or cremated.

According to guidelines issued by the Health Ministry on Dec 2, 2020, the next-of-kin are prohibited from handling, touching, or kissing the deceased Covid-19 patients.

It also states that family members have to maintain a distance of at least one metre away from the body.

The past few weeks have seen an unprecedented number of Covid-19 deaths.

Yesterday, the Health Ministry has reported 6,806 new cases of Covid-19, 59 deaths, and 587 patients in ICU while 330 patients are intubated. - Mkini