BULAWAYO – Zimbabwe has banned the movement of dead bodies from place to place for burial in a controversial effort to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The measure was announced by police and health officials late on Sunday as the country reported 978 new infections and 24 deaths from the respiratory virus.

Burial will now take place where one would have died, meaning relatives will not be able to take their departed loved ones home for interment.

Bodies will only be cleared to leave the morgue to go straight to the cemetery, officials said.

It remains unclear how the new policy affects the repatriation of Zimbabweans who would have died in another country.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police advises the public that the Ministry of Health and Child Care has informed the police of immediate restrictions imposed on the movement of dead bodies for burial in the country,” police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said in a statement.

“According to health officials, a body will now be buried in the town or city where the death would have taken place. This is being done in order to curtail the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In this regard, the police will only clear body movements for burial straight from a funeral parlor or hospital mortuary to the burial site. No body viewing will be allowed. Bodies will not be taken home,” Nyathi added.

Nyathi urged caution among those laying their loved ones to rest.

“The public is implored to keep a distance as the body is lowered into the grave by either city health or funeral parlor officials. The grave site will be disinfected before burial.

“Police commanders in all provinces have been advised to ensure that the government’s directive is complied with. The public is accordingly informed of this important message,” he said.

There is growing concern among health officials that funeral gatherings and burials are fast becoming super-spreaders of coronavirus in Zimbabwe.

Still, many people feel the new policy goes too far.

But government spokesperson Nick Ndavaningi Mangwana defended the measure saying it is necessary.

“Government respects the cultural and customary preferences expressed by the deceased and or their families in burial matters,” Mangwana tweeted.

“However, we are in unusual days, where we are fighting for our very lives. To curtail the spread of Covid-19, people are now to buried in towns of their deaths.”

Zimbabwe has seen a rapid increase in both coronavirus infections and deaths over the last few weeks, with the country’s caseload reaching 21,477 and deaths quickening to 507 on Sunday.