Relatives trapped in house with infected body after woman dies of coronavirus

The brother of a woman infected with COVID-19 has released an emotional video on social media pleading with authorities to remove his sister’s body more than 36 hours after her death.

Luca Franzese and his family remain in self-isolation in their home in Naples in southern Italy as part of the national lockdown across Italy.

Al Jazeera reported Mr Franzese’s 47-year-old sister died on Saturday evening after developing symptoms associated with COVID-19, it was only after her death that she was tested for the virus and returned positive results.

Mr Franzese recorded the video with his sister’s body in the background as he made a desperate plea for help.

"I am making this video for the good of Italy, for the good of Naples. My sister died last night, probably because of the virus, and I've been waiting for answers since last night," he said in the emotional video translated from Italian by Al Jazeera.

Teresa Franzese was an epileptic and was in otherwise good health before she died.

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"I had to force them to come and do the test,” her brother said.

“I've had to put myself in self-isolation. I might have the virus. To keep my sister alive, I tried to give her mouth to mouth resuscitation and no one cared, no one is calling me.”

“We are ruined, Italy has abandoned us," Mr Franzese continued.

The woman's elderly parents and other relatives, including children, were also reportedly in the house with the body and are waiting the results of tests to confirm if they have also been infected.

It was only after Mr Franzese’s video went viral that local funeral home, Aprea Funeral Home, agreed to take his sister’s body.

"We used masks, sterile shoes, hazmat suits, glasses, and gloves. Luca and another relative were there, but other family members were all in another room,” employee Pasquale Pernice told Al Jazeera.

In a second video Mr Franzese said family members are awaiting test results and remain quarantined in their house.

Italy remains in lockdown as the country struggles to contain the virus. It so far has reported the most confirmed cases of the virus outside of China.

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