Govt issues new order on Covid deaths

Thiruvananthapuram: The government has decided that all deaths that happened outside hospitals within a month of contracting Covid-19 can be considered as Covid deaths for the purpose of granting ex-gratia compensation. The latest order, in this regard, was issued after several cases were reported from Kasaragod, where natives died of Covid-19 in hospitals of Mangaluru and they were unable to obtain a certificate stating that their deaths were due to Covid-19 infection.
Kasaragod collector had told the government that till October 21 last year, 50 such cases had come up where individuals died of Covid-19 in Mangaluru hospitals and all their relatives had a Covid-positive certificate and a death certificate.
As per the guidelines issued by the Union ministry of health and family welfare, Covid death certificate is required for receiving ex-gratia compensation of Rs 50,000 for close relatives of the dead. It is under these circumstances the government issued an order that such cases also can be considered for compensation, provided they also give an undertaking that they have neither applied or accepted compensation from the other state, where the death occurred.
The applications for compensation must be submitted through an online portal to process and disburse the financial relief for relatives of those who lost their lives due to Covid.
When applications for financial relief are submitted at www.relief.kerala.gov.in, there are a series of documents that are to be submitted along with the application, including death certificate (death certificate issued by ICMR that the person died due to Covid and the death declaration document), copies of his/her ration card, Aadhaar card and bank passbook and heirship certificate, if available.
Meanwhile, with Covid-19 cases rising once again in Kerala, state disaster management department has once again begun preparations for undertaking activities to control the pandemic.
As an initial measure, the department has granted Rs 22 crore to districts to begin work immediately. While Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Wayanad and Kasaragod were granted Rs 1 crore each immediately, the remaining districts were granted Rs two crore each. The districts have been asked to utilize the funds for Covid-mitigation activities as per the guidelines of the state disaster response fund.