Question: Morbid question, how long is someone who passed on contagious?
Answer: There is currently no evidence of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through handling of bodies of deceased persons. While absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, there is believed to be little risk of contracting COVID from a dead body since the virus is primarily spread through respiratory droplets. Because scientists have found the virus in other bodily fluids (beyond respiratory droplets) and because the virus may live on surfaces for short periods of time, if you are around the body of someone who died of COVID-19, you should avoid touching the body. And if you need to touch the body, you should wear personal protective equipment (including gloves) and wash thoroughly thereafter. Figure 1 from CDC describes the differences in burial practices between COVID-19 and Ebola. I’m sharing it here because the COVID-19 portion offers sound advice. Of course, advice for different types of health workers and funeral workers is more stringent as these workers are more likely to be exposed to the bodily fluids of the deceased person, which carries more potential risk. If you want to read more, these resources are all very informative:
- WHO’s Infection prevention and control for the safe management of a dead body in the context of COVID-19: Interim Guidance
- CDC’s Funeral Guidance for Individuals and Families
- the European CDC’s Considerations related to the safe handling of bodies of deceased persons with suspected or confirmedCOVID-19
- BMJ Global Health’s Safe management of bodies of deceased persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19: a rapid systematic review
Figure 1. How are COVID-19 burials different from Ebola burials? (from CDC)
