Free cremation services provided for virus-related deaths in Wuhan

Wuhan city in Central China's Hubei province since Sunday is providing free cremation services for those who died from novel coronavirus infections, aiming to provide convenience and ease problems for bereaved families, according to the Wuhan Bureau of Civil Affairs.

The bureau also opened a special channel and simplified procedures to provide efficient funeral-related services for households who lose a family member due to the virus, said a report by cjn.cn, an official news website in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Vehicles for transporting bodies, working staff and protection gear to prevent infections during service procedures were added to the cities' funeral parlors, the bureau said.

As of Monday night, Wuhan had reported 85 deaths from the virus while the whole country's death toll is 106, according to the top health authority.

With the increased deaths during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, some families complained that funeral agencies were charging higher than usual fees for funeral-related services, the report said.

To deal with the situation, the bureau said such behavior will be punished according to laws and regulations. The bureau also apologized for conduct that had affected households that lost a family member.

Inspection teams were sent to funeral parlors in the city and hotlines were opened to the public to report price gouging.