The Centre on Sunday modified the protocol for handing over the bodies of suspected coronavirus patients to their families in Delhi, direct...

The Centre on Sunday modified the protocol for handing over the bodies of suspected coronavirus patients to their families in Delhi, directing health officials to not wait for laboratory confirmation of infection. The government said the new guidelines were issued on Home Minister Amit Shah’s orders.
The government, however, said that the bodies must be cremated with “abundant precaution” according to the safety guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In case the deceased turns out to be coronavirus positive, the health officials will undertake contact-tracing.
The government issued the new order after Shah met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to discuss the escalating coronavirus crisis in the Capital. After the meeting, Shah announced several decisions to tackle the situation in Delhi, including increase in testing capacity and use of railway coaches to house patients.
In a letter issued by #DGHS to #Delhi Govt, guidelines on handing over of #dead bodies of suspect #COVID19 cases to relatives for #cremation have been relaxed to ensure that families do not need to wait until the result of lab report@LtGovDelhi @MoHFW_INDIA @PMOIndia @BJP4Delhi pic.twitter.com/douArbG7j6
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) June 14, 2020
The new guidelines came amid a sharp increase in Delhi’s coronavirus infections. On Sunday, Delhi reported 2,224 new coronavirus cases and 56 deaths. The Capital’s...