Local authorities approved the burials but never told the families, who believed their loved ones were in a local cemetery — and only months later discovered the truth. In Peru, and in Latin America, it is the first known case of authorities concealing the fate of dozens of COVID-19 victims, and nobody is able to explain why the clandestine burials were held. Family members told AP that at least 403 people were buried in that field. In March, the federal government had ordered the cremation of all coronavirus victims, one of the most stringent restrictions in the region. The San Juan cemetery was 18 kilometers (11 miles) from Iquitos, and Hernández wasn’t allowed to go and say goodbye to her husband.

Source: ABC News April 08, 2021 12:45 UTC