TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian on Wednesday said there are better ways to treat the bodies of positive COVID-19 victims and noted cremation is the only one to make sure the virus dies with the corpse and prevents it from the possibility of infecting other people.

“I am indeed a Muslim, but in theory, the best way is by cremation as it ensures the virus dies too,” said Tito in opening an online discussion on Wednesday.

However, the former national police chief is fully aware that a majority of people will indeed disagree with the theory and will leave it to each person’s religious beliefs. He asserts that the health protocol must be abided by victims’ families who prefer conventional burial for their loved ones who died from COVID-19 infection.

“The virus will remain there, so always bury victims at cemeteries that are drained and do not have running water,” said Tito.

The Indonesian government, through the Health Ministry, already oversees the burial of COVID-19 victims in Health Ministry’s No.HK.01.07/ MENKES/413/2020 upon preventing and containing the coronavirus disease which was passed by Minister Terawan Agus Putranto.

Regulations require dead victims to be tightly wrapped in plastic to shut close each and every hole in the human body before they are finally buried.

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DEWI NURITA