Japanese authorities plan to ease guidelines on how to handle the bodies of people who have died after being infected with the coronavirus.

The current guidelines on the transportation of bodies and funerals were compiled by the health and industry ministries in July 2020.

They say the body of a deceased COVID-19 patient should be put in a non-permeable body bag, and people should refrain from touching the body.

The guidelines recommend that those who were in close contact with the deceased take part in funeral services online instead of attending them in person.

Draft revisions proposed by the health ministry and others say that a body bag is not necessary if certain measures are taken.

The draft no longer asks people to avoid touching the body, and instead says they should wash their hands properly if they do. Close contacts are allowed to attend funeral and cremation services if they take basic preventive measures.

The authorities plan to revise the guidelines by the end of the year based on the opinions of relevant groups. A revision will allow bereaved families to touch their loved ones and give them a final farewell.