At least 15 people have contracted Covid-19 after they opened the coffin of a resident who had died of the virus to perform a traditional bathing ritual, ignoring health protocols and warnings from local authorities.
“The relatives and neighbours of the deceased opened the plastic wrap on the deceased body and even bathed the body. That is so careless,” acting Sidoarjo Regent Nur Ahmad Syaifudin told reporters on Sunday.
He said a villager who had tested positive for Covid-19 died two weeks ago in a hospital. The deceased body, wrapped in plastic sheeting and placed in a wooden coffin, was sent home at the request of relatives.
The relatives and neighbours performed a normal funeral procession for the deceased body, without Covid-19 protocols.
The incident prompted the Sidoarjo Covid-19 task force to conduct contact tracing in the village. The task force confirmed 15 cases of the virus and listed dozens of other people as patients under surveillance (PDP).
Nur said the test results were announced on Saturday, the day Sidoarjo saw 45 new confirmed cases, the highest daily increase it had ever recorded.
He said Jati village had been partially closed to contain the spread of the virus.
“We have strictly limited access from and to the village. We have also ordered the mosque there not to conduct mass prayers,” he said.
Sidoarjo, Surabaya city and Gresik regency have extended large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) until May 25.
The satellite regency of Surabaya is the second-hardest-hit region in East Java after Surabaya with 285 cases and 31 fatalities as of Sunday.
This article was first published in Asia One . All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources.
