Compassion and COVID-19 

If post-apocalyptic disaster movies have taught us anything, it’s that during times of world-ending crises, the first thing that is lost is human decency. Self-preservation takes over, and human beings acting in their own self-interest, inevitably make things worse for themselves and by extension society.

While the COVID-19 pandemic is of course not apocalyptic by any means, the way in which the virus has shut down modern society and brought to the fore, in some cases, the ugliest aspects of humanity has not gone unnoticed.

The latest problem that threatens to tug at our moral fabric is the extremely sensitive matter of disposing of those that have succumbed to the virus. To the credit of the Government, it did address this matter well before the first COVID-19 death came to pass, stating clearly that bodies could either be buried or cremated – provided that all necessary hygiene-related precautions were taken. Funerals, understandably, were forbidden as part of the blanket ban on mass gatherings.

However, the latest update provided by the Ministry of Health on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of disposing of bodies of those who succumb to coronavirus indicates that cremation remains the best practice to avoid further spread of the disease, but the option for burial is conspicuously absent.

This has unsurprisingly caused a furore among those whose religious leanings don’t allow for the cremation of their loved ones, namely Sri Lanka’s large contingent of Muslims. Matters have been further complicated by the fact that the official World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines state unequivocally that, “to date there is no evidence of persons having become infected from exposure to the bodies of persons who died from COVID-19”.

The guidelines, which were last updated on 20 March, add that it is a “common myth” that persons who have died of a communicable disease should be cremated. Cremation, it goes on to say, is a “matter of cultural choice and available resources”. It’s suffice to say therefore that the literature on this matter is rather contradictory, which is not ideal in such a high pressure situation. It is with this in mind that we urge all those involved to act with compassion and understanding, and realise that any actions taken can have far-reaching consequences.

While it is true that cremation is indeed the safest way forward, it would be wise to keep the option of burial open when and where possible. And likewise for those who want to bury their loved ones, it’s important to understand that at times the option may not be feasible. But whichever option is taken, our humanity must remain intact.

The Government when taking decisions such as this must also be cognisant of ensuring all those infected with COVID-19 feel comfortable coming forward to public hospitals, where they are best equipped to treat COVID-19 patients. 

In relation to other countries across the region, and indeed the world, Sri Lanka has done a splendid job thus far in limiting the spread of the virus. But if we get to a point where certain members of society feel more comfortable heading to less-equipped private hospitals, or in the worst case choose to forego professional care altogether, purely because that’s the only way to ensure a proper burial, and they are confronted with intolerance and racism, then we most certainly would have lost the war in trying to win the battle.