Health workers sought help from the district Civil Defence Force (CDF) to ferry the body of Remah Ali, 87, to the Kampung Betutai Muslim cemetery on Pulau Torong Kibing, 3km from the mainland.
District CDF officer Paulina Francis said it took them 15 minutes to reach the island, often wading through a mangrove jungle, to reach the Muslim cemetery there.
She said the woman had died at her home in the village on Oct 4 but was only confirmed to have the virus at the hospital later.
“This is our responsibility as frontliners. We have to help with burial arrangements for Covid-19 victims,” she said when contacted.
Staff from the Sabah Islamic Affairs Department were also involved in the burial.
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