The paper bags were to prevent beta radiation burns. Beta radiation burns the skin when it makes contact and causes damage when inhaled or swallowed. However, it dissapates fairly rapidly and areas would be beta free somewhere around 48 hours after initial fallout.
The paper bags would not, however, do a thing for gamma radiation, which is what the poor couple died from. Paper bags would serve as poor body bags as they would not stop disease, nor would they hold up long enough to contain remains for the period of time necessary for the resumption of normal services.
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