Performing Taharah Immediately After Death Due to Government-Mandated Burial Delay

Description

Government regulations required keeping the dead unburied for a day or two, causing bodies to deteriorate and discouraging the chevra kadisha from performing taharah. The Chasam Sofer permits washing and dressing the body in tachrichim immediately after death, and recommends wrapping an additional outer sheet over the tachrichim to absorb any post-mortem discharge during the waiting period, which can then be removed before burial leaving the tachrichim clean.