As the virus spread to Europe and North America in early 2020, countries scrambled to see what could be done to limit the mounting death toll. The success of a handful of vaccines has emerged as the most important weapon to combat its spread however it is unlikely that most of us will have a life anything like the ‘normal’ that we knew for some years to come.
Many of the strategies detailed in this eHandbook have been affected by this new global disease. An updated ‘RPA Table’ (found in the final pages of the Chapter) provides a quick means of checking which of the methods discussed are affected by COVID-19. The ‘post COVID-19’ column of the Table is important reading.
As the virus has spread, questions can arise about whether one’s preferred methods will be as effective in the presence of a COVID-19 infection (Delta or Omicron). Or, indeed, if there is the possibility of using the disease as part of an end of life process. This Chapter seeks to answer these questions.
A COVID-19 Pneumonic Death
As has been widely reported, many people who contract the COVID virus recover without experiencing any adverse symptoms. A somewhat larger group (particularly with the Omicron variant) will experience symptoms consisting of a mild (or moderate) upper respiratory infection, dry cough, fever, headache and sore throat. This group generally recovers completely with bed rest and simple analgesics and anti-pyretics such as aspirin or paracetemol.
