Some hospitals in Eswatini, the southern African nation formerly known as Swaziland, ran out of body bags because of a surge in Covid-19 fatalities, the Times of Swaziland has reported.

Health care workers at Lubombo Referral Hospital and Good Shepherd Mission Hospital (GSMH) had reportedly been forced to wrap bodies in bed sheets over the last two weeks.

Some body bags have now been procured following complaints from staff.

"They were procured after the complaints from the orderlies and nurses as some of the staff members felt that they were at risk of being exposed to the virus because they had to make sure that the bodies were wrapped in a satisfactory manner that would not expose any body parts," a source, who sought anonymity was quoted as saying.

"We just hope the bags will be enough to last us for a while."

Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi said she had not been informed about the shortages.

Meanwhile, the Swazi Observer website reports that 28 health professionals have arrived in the country after the government sought the help of the World Health Organization. They include a team of 11 medics sent by the UK government.

The country, which borders South Africa that has been badly hit by the pandemic, has so far confirmed 15,804 cases of the virus including 574 deaths.