Because death scenes normally require processing as soon as possible, forensic practitioners may not know the victim's accurate health condition, travel history in a pandemic area or the contact history with possibly infected persons immediately. These uncertainties mean that the forensic practitioners and police working at the death scene are faced with severe risks of getting infected. The asymptomatic transmission of 2019-nCoV means that anyindividual can be infected but not show signs. The use of personal protective equipment by all personnel at a death scene is recommended.