Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena says performing post-mortem PCR is not mandatory for all deaths, hospital or non-hospital deaths.
Issuing a statement, the Director General said if a death requires a post-mortem exam, post-mortem PCR can be performed at the discretion of the Judicial Medical Officer.
The Director General said if diagnosed with COVID-19 the method of disposal, remains the same as stipulated in previous circulars until further notice.
The statement was issued considering the evolving knowledge of COVID-19 infections, and post-mortem diagnosis of the coronavirus.
