The remains of the first novel coronavirus patient who died outside China will be cremated, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced Monday.
“Mayroon tayong tinatawag na burial saka ‘yung pangangasiwa ng pumanaw at ng katawan nito… at sa pinakahuling ulat sa akin, ike-cremate,” the health chief told GMA News.
On Sunday, China’s National Health Commission released guidelines on how to properly dispose the remains of nCoV patient who died due to the deadly disease.
RELATED STORY: China: Bodies of nCoV victims should be cremated immediately
In an interview with GMA News, Duque clarified that the virus is no longer transmissible from the deceased carrier’s body.
“Ito ay imported case. Hindi ito community-transmitted novel coronavirus,” he explained.
Duque also explained why the health of the 44-year-old patient deteriorated swiftly resulting to his death.
“Sudden downturn dahil hindi lang nCoV ang meron ang pasyenteng ito. Meron din siyang Streptococcus pneumoniae—ito ‘yung isa sa pinakakaraniwang sanhi ng pneumonia. Meron ding siyang influenza virus. Mayroon siyang co-infection,” he pointed out.
The deceased patient was the partner of the 38-year-old woman, the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in the country.
He added that they are coordinating with the Chinese Embassy but, he has no information whether the remains will be repatriated to China.
READ MORE: BREAKING: DOH: 30 patients tested negative for nCoV
