Does the COVID-19 virus remain alive and infectious in a dead body?

 Does the COVID-19 virus remain alive and infectious in a dead body?

Covid-19 virus, like any other virus, lives and can remain live only inside a live cell. It depends on the functioning of live cell to live and replicate. The virus depends on the energy producing ATP of the cell by its mitochondria. The cell dies when it stops and so does the virus.  Once the infected cell is dead and its lysosomes have liberated the lytic enzymes inside the cell for autolysis, every thing inside the cell is digested. It is certain that all Covid-19 viruses inside the body cells will die with the death of the person. There is no question of these escaping the body.

However, the viruses on the surface of the respiratory tract cells waiting of entry, will survive. But once the respiration stops, the nose is plugged with cotton plugs and the mouth is shut tight, the virus particles can not escape the dead body to be infectious.

As regards the viruses that might be present of the surface of the dead body, they can be effectively neutralized with sanitizers.

For further safety the dead body can be put inside a transparent plastic bag and zipped or sealed with cello tape.

Is it then necessary to subject the Covid-19 positive dead to gross indignity and inhuman disposal? 

If an asymptomatic corono-positve person in home quarantine is safe for the other family members, taking adequate precautions, a non breathing corono-positive dead can not be a greater danger.  

A suitable protocol may be developed by the experts to remove the extreme fear psychosis created in this context.

Dr S G Kabra

Director Clinical Services

BMCHRC