PPE is the New Contraband

PPE is the New Contraband

PPE in the province has been earmarked for hospitals, family doctors and other medical staff. Alberta’s funeral homes are running out.

“It will be a concern the longer that this goes on,” said Evan Strong, the owner of Evan J. Strong Funeral Home.

He added he understands the necessary hierarchy of PPE distribution, but wants the government to understand the position funeral homes are in as well.

There have been questions about whether a deceased person can transmit COVID-19, but Health Canada has no clear answer at this point.

The virus can live on surfaces for varying lengths of time. Stephanie Smith, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Alberta, said it’s possible for the virus to live on a body but the risk is lower.

A person wears personal protective equipment, which includes an N95 respirator, mask and nitrile gloves. Some of this gear is used by funeral homes when handling the deceased. (CBC/Radio-Canada)

“Any kind of infection would have to be transmitted directly from touching the deceased person and then touching one’s face, nose, mouth,” she said.

She said despite that, the difficulty funeral homes are having trying to procure PPE should be addressed.

Alberta recently sent millions of pieces of the medical equipment to Ontario, Quebec, B.C. and the Northwest Territories.

“PPE is kind of the new contraband,” Smith said. “Everyone in the world is trying to access it.”

The province says they’re working to get gear to funeral homes. In the meantime, requests for PPE can be sent directly to them.