DOH probes Vizcaya hospital that wrapped cadaver of suspected COVID patient in packing tape

The body of Merwin Fabrigas Sapipi, 23 was wrapped in packing tape. This was reportedly done by the hospital where he was admitted as a protocol for suspected COVID-19 cases. But his test yielded a negative result for coronavirus. PHOTO FROM LIBERTY SAPIPI

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is investigating reports that a man who was suspected of dying due to COVID-19 was wrapped in a cloth and packing tape in a hospital in Nueva Vizcaya where he was being treated.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Friday that the DOH is currently investigating the incident, adding that it was “not the ideal” way to cover the cadaver of someone suspected of having an infectious disease.

“Iniimbestigahan natin ngayon ang insidenteng ito. Maaaring maraming factors ang naglead sa paggawa nito. Maaaring wala sila (hospital) ng needed resources, like these body bags,” she said in an online press briefing.

(We are investigating this incident. There could be other factors that led to this. Maybe they do not have the needed resources like body bags.)

Vergeire was referring to the case of 23-year-old construction worker Merwin Jay Sapipi who was taken to Region II Trauma and Medical Center in Nueva Vizcaya for treatment following a road accident. His family said he was initially suspected of being stricken with COVID-19 when he died on May 1, but his test result later showed he was negative for the coronavirus disease.

According to Vergeire, the DOH regularly provides body bags to its regional offices for the proper disposition of cadavers.

“We provide these body bags regularly lalo na sa time ng pandemic na ito so gusto lang namin malaman kung bakit ganito ang naging practice dito sa facility na ito,” she said.

(We provide these body bags regularly especially in this time of pandemic so we just want to know why this happened in this facility.)

Vergeire noted that the handling of cadavers should also be aligned to sanitation code and policies of the DOH.

She said the body of those who have died of notifiable infectious diseases should be wrapped in a double body bag and should be cremated within 12 hours.

EDV