The Health Ministry has announced that the bodies of those who die while at their residences will be subjected to PCR tests on the instructions of officials conducting the post mortem examination or a Magistrate.
Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Guanwardena said the decision will be in effect in areas identified as high-risk and non-risk due to the coronavirus.
Earlier, the final rites of those who died while at their residences were usually conducted on the instructions of health authorities or the Grama Seva Niladhari, or following the completion of the post mortem examination at the hospital.
However, under the new decision, the bodies of the deceased will not be handed over for final rites to be conducted until it is ascertained if the deceased had contracted the coronavirus or not.
The decision on whether or not to conduct PCR tests on those who die at their residences will be taken by officials conducting investigations into the death and the Magistrate involved in the magisterial inquiry. (NewsWire)