COVID-19 and Mass Fatality Management: A Public Health Challenge

Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2020 Aug;14(4):e38-e39. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2020.277. Epub 2020 Jul 27.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a serious question over preparedness to deal with mass fatality. The current trend shows that there would be more bodies than the capacity and resources to handle them. The international agencies have alerted governments that the number of deaths may overwhelm the local capacity to handle dead bodies properly. Mass fatality management and planning are important to respecting the dignity of the deceased and surviving family. Inadequate capacity to deal with dead bodies may affect the psychological well-being of survivors which may result in distress to families and community.

Keywords: COVID-19; dead body; management; mass fatality; pandemic; public health.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • COVID-19 / mortality
  • Cadaver*
  • Humans
  • Mass Casualty Incidents*
  • Pandemics / statistics & numerical data
  • Public Health / methods*
  • Public Health / standards
  • Public Health / trends