Research and analysis

COVID-19: transmission from the deceased

These reviews aim to identify and examine evidence on the risk of transmission from handling the bodies of deceased persons with COVID-19.

Documents

COVID-19 transmission from the deceased: a rapid review

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COVID-19 transmission from the deceased: a rapid review (brief update 1)

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Details

These evidence reviews were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic by the COVID-19 rapid evidence service and were initially published on another website. Their content has not changed from their initial publication. Some reviews were published before October 2021 by Public Health England (PHE).

Two rapid reviews (an original and an update) aimed to identify and examine evidence on the risk of transmission from handling the bodies of deceased persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19:

  • an initial review – previously published by PHE on 22 July 2021, with research up to 17 March 2021 and including 12 studies
  • an updated review – initially published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on 8 February 2022, with research up to 22 November 2021 and including a further 10 studies
Published 17 March 2021