Rules and ideas are useless unless implemented. It remains incomplete. The risks of the pandemic are heightening, but we seem to fall back to our normal days, especially at crematoriums. Despite protocols and notification by the National COVID-19 Task Force, it remains to be seen that we are failing to adhere to the rules.
During the recent cremation in Thimphu, some eight dead bodies were cremated and hundreds of people had gathered. This is the breach of the notification, served by the COVID-19 Task Force in June this year. The notification on Dos and Don’ts at crematoriums was issued, considering the emergence of the new variant of the coronavirus and increasing COVID-19 cases in the country.
As per the notification, only five bodies will be cremated on any given day, a number of accompanying family members will be limited to a maximum of 20, Bhutan Red Cross Society will ensure strict compliance to the protocols in the cremation ground, and inter-dzongkhag movement of dead bodies and people for cremation is restricted.
Although the inter-dzongkhag movement of people and dead bodies have been under strict implementation, it has been observed that people fail to abide by the other rules.
According to the Thimphu Dzongkhag’s coordinator for Bhutan Red Cross Society, Ugyen Phuntsho, most often, they can’t cremate the dead bodies immediately. And this piles up the bodies, making it difficult to prolong the cremation, especially during summer.
“Without a choice, we have to cremate five to eight bodies. As for the crowd, it always exceeds the limitations,” he said.
The task is challenging for some six personnel of the Bhutan Red Cross Society. Despite the hurdles, they put their best, to prevent the outbreak and transmission of the virus.
“As soon as people reach here, firstly we let them scan the Druk Trace App and inquire who they are visiting. We also check if they have the facemask on,” Ugyen Phuntsho added.
Gatherings have become inevitable at the crematorium and this seems to put at stake all the efforts we have put together to fight the pandemic so far. If there is an outbreak, the cremation ground could become a hotspot of community transmission.
However, inter-dzongkhag transportation of dead bodies is being restricted, except for special cases.
As per Health Minister Dechen Wangmo, except for special cases, the National COVID-19 Task Force strictly implements and monitors the inter-dzongkhag travel of people for cremation and transportation of dead bodies.
“At the national referral hospital, we only allow one attendant per patient. For instance, if a patient from Punakha who was referred to the hospital dies; under such circumstances, then there won’t be any family members or relatives here. The deceased must be taken to Punakha. We consider such a situation,” Lyonpo said.
As per the National COVID-19 Task Force, it is the Bhutan Red Cross Society’s responsibility to manage the crematorium in Thimphu, but with the pandemic situation aggravating by the day, the task force maintains that it is everyone’s responsibility to abide by the protocols put in place.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Chayku
