The funeral homes and crematoriums that deny service to the bodies of deceased coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients will face punishment according to the Quezon City local government unit (LGU).
Based on the protocol by the QC Council, it is not allowed to deny such service to deceased COVID-19 patients, funeral homes and crematoriums are also prohibited to increase their service fee during the enhanced community quarantine.
There will be a penalty of PhP 5,000, imprisonment of not more than 6 months, and cancellation of business permits for those who violate the policy.
The QC Government has also urged the hospitals and health care facilities to require cremation of deceased COVID-19 patients.
The LGU has only given 12 hours for the cremation of the body to prevent the spread of the virus.
The QC LGU has also promised to pay for the expenses of residents who died due to the virus. In the event the body is abandoned by the family, the local government will take over to complete the process. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
