Some Countries Throw COVID-19 Dead Bodies into Seas: Fact Check

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Some countries throw COVID-19 infected dead bodies into the seas. Advice to stop eating seafood.
The World is really coming to an end.
Dear God, please intervene.

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Countries throw Covid19 infected in The Seas

Image about Some Countries Throw COVID-19 Dead Bodies into Seas

Fact Check:

A video message spread wide on social media alleges to show some countries throw COVID-19 infected Dead Bodies into the Seas. They warn world is coming to an end and advice people to stop eating seafood. No, the claims are true – the video is an old one not related to the deadly new Coronavirus, COVID-19.

Old Video, Not COVID-19 Dead Bodies Thrown into Seas

Yes, the video is an old one showing an unfortunate incident from August 2014. At the time, many Migrants from Middle East and Africa were putting their lives in the hands of smugglers to get across the Mediterranean and reach Europe. In one such incident, more than 300 asylum seekers and migrants died when three boats capsized or sank. As you can see in the video report, the dead bodies were floating everywhere after washing ashore on Libya’s coast.

Unlike the claims, there are no credible reports to suggest some countries are throwing COVID-19 infected dead bodies into the seas. The video and claims went viral online amid fears after COVID-19 became a deadly global pandemic.

Does the Coronavirus Spread Through Dead Bodies?

COVID-19 is a novel strain of Coronaviruses and scientists are still learning how the disease spreads. As many countries are fighting the global pandemic without any vaccine, the disease progression is not entirely clear. Likewise, as of this writing, scientists know very little about whether the dead bodies of people infected with the Coronavirus can be contagious. US CDC says people should consider not touching the body of someone who has died of COVID-19. Dr. Otto Yang, a professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles told about it to Live Science. He said a dead body would be contagious at least for hours if not days. “The virus will still be in respiratory secretions, and potentially still reproducing in cells that haven’t yet died in the lungs,” he said. However, it is unclear, how long COVID-19 virus remains infectious in a dead body.

World Health Organization, WHO suggests to avoid hasty disposal of a dead from COVID-19. On 24 March 2020, WHO released an interim guidance on Infection Prevention and Control for the safe management of a dead body in the context of COVID-19. Accordingly, Health care workers or mortuary staff preparing the body should wear appropriate Personal protective equipment (PPE) as per standard precautions. WHO suggests clear instructions to the family of the deceased not to touch or kiss the body. Moreover, the global health body also suggests people who died from COVID-19 can be buried or cremated.