Thiruvananthapuram, June 4, 2020: The funeral of a priest of the Malankara Orthodox Church who died of Covid-19 was conducted on June 4, two days after his death.

The burial was conducted as per protocol for COVID-19 deaths.

Father K.G. Varghese died on June 2 in a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala state. He was tested positive for coronavirus after hospitalization following a motorcycle accident.

The funeral came a day after residents protested the burial citing legal issues over the cemetery. Officials were forced to postpone the funeral on June 3 as tension prevailed at Malamukal near Vattiyoorkav.

The 77-year-old priest, a native of Nalanchira in Thiruvananthapuram, also suffered from pneumonia. His swab had been sent for testing and the result returned positive on June 2 evening.

On June 4, the City Corporation team led by Health Standing Committee Chairman I P Binu received the priest’s body from the Medical College Hospital at around 2:30 pm. The funeral was held at the Orthodox Church cemetery at Kumarapuram near Malamukal.

Authorities are yet to trace the source of the priest’s Covid-19 infection. The priest had no travel history outside the state in the recent past and hadn’t been in contact with anyone who had contracted the disease.

He had, however, been admitted in hospital for over a month after he met with an accident on April 20. Though some reports suggested that he may have contracted the infection from the hospital, the health officials were unavailable for comment.

Around 20 medical professionals of the Medical College Hospital have been asked to go into quarantine after the priest’s swab returned positive. This includes doctors and medical officers.

“He had been first admitted to the Medical College, but was shifted to the Government Hospital Peroorkkada on May 20 as there was an improvement in his health condition. But he was again shifted to the Medical College Hospital as his condition turned worse,” Mannanathala ward councilor Anil Kumar told TNM.

His swab samples were taken after his death.

As on June 4, Kerala reported 15 Covid-19 deaths.

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/christian-priest-who-died-covid-19-kerala-laid-rest-day-after-protests-125923