Solemn burial for Namibia's first Covid-19 fatality
OTIS FINCK
WALVIS BAY
The 45-year-old man who became the first person to die of Covid-19 in Namibia was laid to rest in Walvis Bay on Tuesday.
A small group of relatives, health ministry officials, army personnel, council officials and operators of earth-moving machinery working at the burial site were in attendance during the solemn ceremony.
The burial was preceded by a site visit and inspection by health ministry and military staff.
Erongo governor Neville Andre confirmed telephonically that the man was buried in Narravile, and added that strict World Health Organisation protocols and procedures were enforced.
Burial proceedings
A convoy of vehicles arrived at 17:00 and proceeded to the burial area where what appeared to be a service was conducted.
Andre, who also witnessed the proceedings from a distance, confirmed that the municipality made the site available for the internment of Covid-19 related deaths after a request by the health ministry.
During the burial proceedings, a group of men clad in white protective suits were observed carrying the body to its final resting place.
A front-end loader covered the grave with sand while family members dispersed, and the group of officials who handled the burial were sanitised and left the area.
Worried residents
By this time, a large group of worried residents living in the area nearby had converged, observing the proceedings from a distance.
Many said they were furious that the municipality had not consulted or informed them of the fact that persons who have died of Covid-19 would be buried within close proximity to their homes.
The deputy minister of urban and rural development Derek Klazen, who resides in Narraville, called for calm. “It is a sad day and the death of this patient came as a shock for us all. This person is a Namibian and we should pay our last respects,” he said.
Municipal regulations
Earlier this week, a municipal official said graves for people who die of Covid-19 would be dug 2.5 metres deep.
“Such persons are not buried in coffins, but in body bags. They are also injected with a substance to ensure that their bodies disintegrate completely within a number of days,” the official said, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
He gave the assurance that the area allocated for Covid-19-related deaths would be properly sealed off to prevent members of the public from accessing it.
WALVIS BAY
The 45-year-old man who became the first person to die of Covid-19 in Namibia was laid to rest in Walvis Bay on Tuesday.
A small group of relatives, health ministry officials, army personnel, council officials and operators of earth-moving machinery working at the burial site were in attendance during the solemn ceremony.
The burial was preceded by a site visit and inspection by health ministry and military staff.
Erongo governor Neville Andre confirmed telephonically that the man was buried in Narravile, and added that strict World Health Organisation protocols and procedures were enforced.
Burial proceedings
A convoy of vehicles arrived at 17:00 and proceeded to the burial area where what appeared to be a service was conducted.
Andre, who also witnessed the proceedings from a distance, confirmed that the municipality made the site available for the internment of Covid-19 related deaths after a request by the health ministry.
During the burial proceedings, a group of men clad in white protective suits were observed carrying the body to its final resting place.
A front-end loader covered the grave with sand while family members dispersed, and the group of officials who handled the burial were sanitised and left the area.
Worried residents
By this time, a large group of worried residents living in the area nearby had converged, observing the proceedings from a distance.
Many said they were furious that the municipality had not consulted or informed them of the fact that persons who have died of Covid-19 would be buried within close proximity to their homes.
The deputy minister of urban and rural development Derek Klazen, who resides in Narraville, called for calm. “It is a sad day and the death of this patient came as a shock for us all. This person is a Namibian and we should pay our last respects,” he said.
Municipal regulations
Earlier this week, a municipal official said graves for people who die of Covid-19 would be dug 2.5 metres deep.
“Such persons are not buried in coffins, but in body bags. They are also injected with a substance to ensure that their bodies disintegrate completely within a number of days,” the official said, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
He gave the assurance that the area allocated for Covid-19-related deaths would be properly sealed off to prevent members of the public from accessing it.
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