DOH confirms cremation of PH's first COVID-19 victim

Updated Wed, February 5, 2020 at 3:28 PM Published Mon, February 3, 2020 at 8:00 AM

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that the cremation of the Philippines' first COVID-19 fatality, a 44-year-old Chinese man from Wuhan, was scheduled to push through on Wednesday.

The deceased, who had co-infections and whose case was imported, is no longer infectious.

Consent for the cremation was secured from the Chinese Embassy.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III previously expressed disappointment as some crematoriums initially agreed but later backed out from handling the body.

The DOH has the mandate to dispose of bodies with infectious diseases of public health concern in a sanitary way.

Meanwhile, the first confirmed case of novel coronavirus in the country, the deceased patient's partner, remains confined as they still test positive for the virus, despite showing no symptoms.

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